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THE LATE 



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William Hodge, Sen., 



MISCELLANIES. 



WILLIAM HODGE. 



Printed for Private Circulation. 



1885- 



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Compliments of THE AUTHOR. 




A MEMOIR 



The Late William Hodge, Sen. 



ILLUSTRATIVE MISCELLANIES. 



By His Son, 

WILLIAM HODGE. 



■WITH :p O IS. T E, A. I T. 



BUFFALO: 

BiGELOW Brothers, Trinters, 

60, 62 AND 64 PEARL ST., COR. SENECA. 



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Portrait of William Hodc.e, Sen Frontispiece 

Preface by the Editor v.-vii. 

Introduction by the Author ... viii. 

Memoir of William Hodge, Sen i- n) 

Illustrative Miscellanies: 

A. The Cold Spring, [page 4, line 28] 21- 26 

B. Population of Buffalo, 1789-1885, [p. 5, 1. 9] 26- 27 

C. Buffalo Village Families, 1S06, [p. 5, 1. 29] 28- 30 

D. The Log Tavern, 1807-1S12, [p. 6, 1. 17] 30- 31 

E. Buffalo in 1S09, [p 9, 1. i] 32- 34 

F. Cold Spring School District, iSio, &c., [p. 9, ]. 28]. 34- 36 

G. My Grandfather's Wolf-Trap, 1812, [p. 10, 1. 9] 37- 43 

II. The Boys' Pet Cannon, 1813, &c., [p. 10, 1. 35] 44- 46 

I. The Battle of Black Rock, 1S13, [p. ir, 1. 13] 47- 54 

I. The Burning of Buffalo, 1813-14, [p. 12, 1. 18] 54- 59 

K. Soldiers' Depredations, 1812-14, [p. 13,1.30] 59-^)0 

L. The Battle of Fort Erie, 1814, [p. 14, 1. 16] 60- 61 

M. Roads, Travel and Traffic, [p. 15, 1. 19] 61- 77 

N. Sandytown, The Flats, &c., [pp. 64 and 67] 78- 82 

O. Public Executions in Buffalo, 1812-1831, [p. 16, 1. 3]. 82- 89 
P. Pioneer Reminiscences, [p. 16, 1. 15] 89-1 1 1 

I. Perils and Escapes 90 

II. Schools and Schoolmasters 94 

III. Recreations 100 

Q. Religious Services and Sunday-Schools, [p. .18, 1. 24].iii-i2i 
I. Early Religious Services in 

II. Early Sunday-Schools 114 

R. SCHOOLHOUSES AND Teachers, Cold Spring DistriLt 122-137 

S. Memoranda 13S-147 

I. Biographical Notices 13S 

II. A War Song of 1812 144 

III. A Boy's Trick of 1814 145 

IV. Sundry Old-Timk Xuiks 146 



PREFACE. 

BY THE EDITOR. 

This tribute to a father's memory, and the papers ac- 
companying it, have value not only in themselves, but as 
examples. Such simple narratives and descriptions concern- 
ing by-gone days in Buffalo, ought to be far more numerous 
than they are. 

On the subject of their publication, the venerable author 
said, in 1882, in a letter as to printing one of them, "It would 
need to pass through your or some other's hands, to put it 
into readable shape, as my 'college' education was obtained 
in log school-houses. The 'professors' were generally . paid 
$12.00 to $20.00 per month and 'boarded 'round.' I am 
willing to do what little I can in obtaining facts which may 
help towards completing the local history of Buffalo, where I 
have resided more than seventy-six years." 

The chief work which I have done as editor is that thus 
indicated, of " shaping" these papers for printing. 

I have already done the same thing which is here under- 
taken, for several other papers prepared by the venerable 
author, viz: "The Cemeteries of Buffalo," "Captain 
David Wilkeson " and " The Pioneer Steamboats on 
Lake Erie." And it has fallen to my lot to do similar deli- 
cate and laborious work with numerous papers, from various 
hands, relating to the past of Buffalo ; especially, when Corre- 
sponding Secretary of the Buffalo Historical Society, in 
editing the two volumes of its publications, which have been 
printed, and in preparing the material for a third volume, 
which has not been printed. 

The thing that impresses me most strongly as the result of 
this work, is, that though much has been done towards col- 
lecting materials for a history of Buffalo, that history has not 
yet been written, in any true sense of the word. I am not igno- 
rant of, nor do I forget, Mr. Ketchum's "Buffalo and the 



VI. 



Senegas," nor the lately-produced portly agglomeration called 
a "History of Buffalo and Erie County." But I mean, 
that the materials for such a history have not yet been all col- 
lected; and especially that the collections already made and 
within reach have not been wrought into a history. They have 
not been subjected to that thorough, systematic, intelligent and 
appreciative examination, verification, comparison, selection 
and arrangement in symmetrical form and scholarly style, by 
the hand of a true lover of Buffalo, of which the facts making 
up the life of this great city are susceptible and deserving. 

Yet every endeavor to catch and preserve in usable shape 
that information in particular, as to the early days of Buffalo, 
which is not originally documentary, is helping to prepare the 
way for the historian of Buffalo, when he shall appear. 

Of course, much of what is thus collected will be in itself 
minute, and it may be, will appear trivial to many. But it is 
often by just such things (as "straws show which way the 
wind blows ") that in matters of testimony, material con- 
clusions are established ; and in matters of /listoiy, import- 
ant, — at any rale, truthful, — results, attained. 

Of the more than sixty documents placed in my hands for 
the purpose of the present publication, largely in manuscript, 
I have sought to make a selection and arrangement which 
would include the substance of all of them, freed from material 
repetition, — and yet present them not as mere detached mis- 
cellanies, iDut as liaving a certain unity of relation to each 
other and to one central object. Accordingly, the paper con- 
cerning the life of the author's father is taken as the leading 
and chief one; while the others are given the relation of appen- 
dices to this. To avoid, however, some inconvenience attend- 
ing the insertion of references to these, in the text of the leading 
paper, I have so prepared the Table of Contents as to note, in 
most cases, in connection with the title of each illustrative 
article, the point in the Memoir at which it may most suita- 
bly be read. The arrangement of the miscellanies is in a 



general way chronological as to subjects, and thus serves the 
purpose of extending and illustrating the main narrative, as 
it proceeds, in due order of time. 

In regard to some of these miscellanies, especially among 
the concluding ones, it should be said tliat they seemed to 
me calculated to be entertaining for children and young 
people: and likely to be useful in leading them to look with 
interest into the early forming days of this great city in which 
they live. Hence I have not re-cast them with reference to 
the taste of older readers. And yet it often happens that 
what is said, written and printed expressly for children has 
great interest also for the children of a larger growth. 

In the course of final revision, a few items have been dis- 
covered which, for the sake of correction or explanation 
are here noted, viz: — 

At page 23, line 32, for ''Mr. Franklin," read, "Stephen 
Franklin." At page 34, next to the last line, after "Goodrich 
Mansion," read, "so called in later years, from the name of 
one long its owner and occupant, though it was built by 
Joseph Ellicott." At pages 35, line 19, and 44, line 11, for 
"Alvan L. Dodge," read, " Alvan Dodge." At page 36, line 
30, for "near the bridge," read, "near the north end of the 
bridge;" and, line 31, after "west side," read, "of the road." 
At page 96, line 28, read, "This spring it is sixty-three,' &c. 

Let it now be remembered that they who could tell us such 
things as are presented in these pages, or anything at all, 
"from their own knowledge," concerning Pioneer Life in 
Buffalo, are nearly all gone from among us. He whose 
reminiscences and records are here given to types is well nigh 
the last original witness of those early times, remaining with 
us: and passed his eightieth birthday nearly five months ago. 
Let then these his simple and graphic recollections be to 
us as if we sat with him for a last conversation ere he shall 
join his companions of "days auld, lang syne," where "Time 
shall be no more." 

Buffalo, May i, 1885. ALBERT BIGELOW. 



INTRODUCTION. 

Many years ago, long before the existence of the Buffalo 
Historical Society, it occurred to me that there were many 
facts as to the early residents of Buffalo, their settlement, kinds 
and places of business, and varied experiences in pioneer life, 
which, if recorded, would be interesting and instructive. Had 
mine been the hand of a "ready writer," I would have penned 
many such pages in earlier years, from my own knowledge or 
first-hand information. But I did nothing of the kind, till 
about the year 1848, when I wrote twelve or fifteen sheets, the 
contents of wliich were largely drawn from our family record. 
I at that time upon a promise of my father, expected to obtain 
from him his own written account of many incidents of early 
days; but he was soon removed by death, and my hope was 
disappointed. Besides, I have to regret the Toss of a diary 
which my father had kept of his journey westward to Buffalo 
from Richfield, Otsego county, with his family, in 1805. That 
record was burned in our house when Buffalo was destroyed 
in 1813. 

Since I penned the sheets already mentioned, several per- 
sons have written interesting reminiscences of early Buffalo, 
which have appeared from time to time in the city papers. 

At intervals, since 1869, I have also endeavored in that way 
to do something towards forwarding the good work thus begun. 
Some communications have gone before the Buffalo Historical 
Society; others into the city papers; two or three into pam- 
phlet form; others still, no farther than my own secretary 
drawer. From these various papers I now have a selection 
made and printed, hoping that the sketches may be read with 
profit by the present generation, and prove not only interesting, 
but instructive also to those on whom the responsibilities of 

life are falling heaviest, to-day. 

WILLIAM HODGE. 

Hodge Avenue, Buffalo, N. V., y~r / j% >.,.>*• / 



THE LATE WILLIAM HODGE, SEN. 



By his Son, William Hodge. 



I write briefly of Mr. Hodge's ancestry, — believing it best to 
tell of that which one knows, rather than of that concerning 
which he is not fully informed, even though this results in 
saying little. 

From a pamphlet in which there was a paper that had been 
read before a Historical Club, containing a Historical and 
Statistical Account of the old town of Glastonbury, Connecti- 
cut (from which the Hodge family emigrated westward), I 
find that in 17 13, in dividing six thousand acres of land among 
the inhabitants of the town, the name of Samuel Hodge ap- 
pears with those of seventy-two others. In a list of land- 
owners dated April 2, 1757, is included the name of John 
Hodge. 

By a vote of the town in 1767, liberty was given to " David 
Hodge to build a saw-mill on the deep gutter on Ephraim 
Goodrich's land." 

In 1769 liberty was given to " John Hodge to build a grist- 
mill on his own land on Roaring Brook." 

And again in 1776, among the names of a committee of 
nine, to " inspect each able-bodied man in the town, and see 
whether each man is equipped with a good gun, etc," is found 
that of Benjamin Hodge. 

In the catalogue of those who were in the war of the Revo- 
lution, in 1777, appear the names of Benjamin Hodge Ben- 



jamin Hodge, Jr., Elijah Hodge, John Hodge and John 
Hodge, Jr. 

These notices it will be seen bring the Hodge family to view 
as, at the least, engaged in the good and useful work, in peace- 
ful times, of building mills, and, in the Revolutionary War, of 
fighting for the liberty and independence of the land. 

Aside from the foregoing, tradition says that one of our 
ancestors was a native of Wales and emigrated thence to this 
country, and that the mother of the subject of this paper was 
a descendant of Lord Churchill. 

William Hodge, senior, was born in Glastonbury, Conn., 
July 2, 1781. His father, Benjamin Hodge (who was also a 
native of Glastonbury) removed from that place into the State 
of New York, and settled in the town of Richfield, Otsego 
County, in 1794, — William being then less than thirteen years 
of age. The lad was not brought up to any particular line of 
business, and his early experience in this respect was confined 
to farming, and teaching a village school. For the latter em- 
ployment he had a competent preparation. While the family 
home was at Glastonbury, he had there enjoyed the benefits of 
a good common-school education; and when he came to live 
at Richfield he availed himself of such opportunities for gain- 
ing instruction as that new settlement then afforded. He so 
well improved the advantages enjoyed, that he was employed 
for some time as a teacher in Richfield. 

Dr. Joseph White, a cousin of William Hodge, was an emi- 
nent practicing physician and surgeon in Cherry Valley, in the 
same county. He wished the lad to come and study with him 
for the profession of Medicine. But Mrs. Hodge objected, 
and the Doctor could not prevail upon his aunt to yield against 
her idea, perhaps a mistaken one, of motherly kindness, and to 
allow the boy to go. Her objection was, that should he be- 
come a physician, his station in life would be above that of 
his brothers, and she did not want to manifest any partiality 
by allowing him to do what would bring about such a result. 



So, having without the assistance of wealthy parents or 
friends commenced for himself the business of life, in the way 
which has been mentioned, he was married in the town of 
Exeter, Otsego County, N. Y., March 25, 1802, to Sally Abbott, 
a daughter of Mr. Daniel Abbott of that place. They lived 
there about three years, — his occupation being still that of 
teaching the district school in the winter, and farming in the 
summer. 

Being poor, — and his only capital consisting of his educa- 
tion and experience, his industrious habits and willing hands, — 
he made up his mind to move out to this then wild, western 
frontier, Buffalo being the point he chose at which to make his 
stand; having confidence that he could succeed if others could, 
in a newly settled country. He had heard of the "Holland 
Purchase," but he knew nothing about the quality of the land, 
or the character of the region. He only knew that the land 
could be bought at a low figure and on credit, and this suited 
his case. 

Buffalo was at this time considered the extreme western limit 
of civilization, its "jumping-off place"; and in resolving as 
he did in such circumstances as his, to set forth on a journey 
of removal hither, he displayed the true spirit of a pioneer; he 
was indeed a thorough type of that necessary class of enter- 
prising men. 

It was in the latter part of May, 1805, that he bade adieu to 
relatives and friends in Exeter, and started on the westward 
journey. His little family consisted at this time of his wife, 
then only eighteen years old, and their two children, the 
youngest (the writer of this paper) five months old; Mr. 
Hodge himself being only twenty-four years of age. 

They traveled by wagon to Utica. Here they embarked in " 
an open row- (or flat-) boat, with the families of Mr. R. Judd 
and Mr. Lyman Jackson; the company consisting of about 
twenty persons in alt 

Their route was up the Mohawk river, into Wood creek, 



and through Oneida lake; then down the Oswego river (the 
travelers going around its rapids, while boatmen carried the 
boat over them), and so on, to Lake Ontario, and up that lake 
and the lower part of the Niagara river, to Lewiston. There 
the boat was taken out of the river, carried around Niagara 
Falls in a wagon drawn by an ox-team, and put into the river 
again, at Schlosser, where they all re-embarked. Thence, by 
rowing, poling and towing, the boat was propelled through the 
upper Niagara river to Buffalo creek, and so to the village. 
The arrival took place on the i6th day of June, 1805, after 
twenty days of laboring at the oar, and traveling around the 
portage. 

Disembarking with his family, Mr. Hodge put up at Zenas 
Barker's tavern. This was a double log house, situated on the 
bluff which was afterwards leveled down into " The Terrace,"^ 
and about one or two hundred feet west of Main street, — the 
house facing south. The day following, Mr. Hodge engaged 
Major Perry (who owned and occupied the farm which has 
been so long known as the Granger property, on Conjockety's 
creek, at the crossing of Main street) to come in with his oxen 
and cart and carry his effects out to his, Major Perry's, place. 
He immediately occupied the log house, at the Perry Saw- 
mill (since then long known as the Granger Saw-mill). In 
this house he lived until the fall, when he moved into an- 
other log house, on lot No. 35, at what is now the north-east 
corner of Main and Utica streets, and remained there until 
June, 1806, when he moved into still another log house, at the 
Cold Spring, where the Tavern now stands. 

Mr. Hodge had, as yet, made no purchase of land. Indeed^ 
as has been said, he had come, with his very young family, 
depending on the labor of his own and his wife's hands 
(since they had little or no property) for support, to be a 
pioneer literally in the wilderness, for that this region then 
was. Surely nothing but the hope and anticipation of better 
and easier times somewhere in the future could buoy up the 



spirit of a man, and induce him to labor and plan for, and to 
endure the hardships of, a pioneer life. It was truly thus with 
Mr. Hodge, in the first years of his residence here. And it 
was only by severe toil that lie was able even to support his 
family, to say nothing of buying land. But he was naturally 
ingenious, and by turning his hand to anything he could find 
to do, he managed to keep along. Having decided to venture 
upon obtaining some land, and not seeing any prospect that 
Buffalo was to become much of a place, he concluded that it 
would be better for him to go into the country, and establish 
himself there. He went accordingly to the town of Eden, in 
this county, and took up a farm at a place subsequently called 
** Tubbs' Hollow" (now Eden Valley). Procuring tools nec- 
essary for building a house, — of which an axe, a hand-saw, a 
hammer and an auger were the greater part, — he went to work, 
and put up a log house on this farm. 

After getting the house so nearly finished that it could be 
occupied, he returned to his family at Buffalo, intending to 
remove them to the Eden farm and make it his future home. 
But his father, Benjamin Hodge, senior, had moved to Buffalo 
that summer (1806), and he had purchased the "article" of 
farm-lot No. 35 originally " taken up " by Thomas Forth. 
The father and son made an exchange of "articles," Benjamin 
Hodge taking the Eden farm and William Hodge the Buffalo 
farm-lot 35, and the latter then moved his family back from the 
Cold Spring place to the log house upon this. There they 
resided something more than six years, — that is, until the last 
of December, 18 12. 

In 1806, then, Mr. Hodge had become established as a per- 
manent resident of Buffalo, preparing himself a home on a 
fifty-acre lot, of which barely a garden spot had been cleared 
and brought under cultivation. But Mr. Hodge was really more 
mechanic than farmer. With his own hands he made common 
pine, black-walnut and whitewood tables and bedsteads, such 
as were wanted in a newly-settled country. He also made 



window-sash; and these articles he exchanged with farmers 
and others for produce and whatever else he needed for the 
use of his family. He also made coffins; but only furnished 
these to order. During the first two years of his residence 
here he threshed grain with the flail, for every tenth bushel; 
cut and split rails at fifty cents per hundred; and took, by the 
job, for enclosing and finishing- off, after the frames were put 
up, the now so old-fashioned farmers' barns. 

At that time, in this new-settled country, there were but few 
public houses or " taverns "; and there were none between the 
Village of Buffalo, and what was called the old Gen. Hopkins 
place, about two miles west of the Eleven-mile creek, now 
known as Williamsville. Mr. Hodge had many apjjlications 
from travelers, for entertainment, and did entertain many; 
and finally, in 1807, building an addition to his log house, 
and a stable and shed, he raised a signboard, showing to those 
journeying by, that they could find accommodations with him. 
He filled up the time that was not required for attending to 
the' wants of his guests, in manufacturing tables, bedsteads, 
sash, in fact whatever was called for in that line of work. 

Mr. Hodge was, it is thus seen, a practical and industrious 
man, ready to undertake whatever necessity and occasion re- 
quired. When an addition to his house was wanted, he took 
his oxen, went to the woods, and cut and hauled up logs. 
Then, with the help of Mr. Oziel Smith, of Williamsville, as 
carpenter, he prepared the timber, and put up the build- 
ing. When there was a portion of his farm to be enclosed, 
he cut and split the oak and chestnut rails, and made his 
fences. When he wanted a well, he took the oxen and cart, 
and gathering stone from the commons and hauling them to 
the selected spot, he then, with help, dug his well and stoned 
it up. There is a well now in use on the farm-lot which he 
first bought, and on which he lived in 1806, which was dug to 
the depth of thirteen feet, and stoned up by himself and his 
brother in two days. In those early times the water was 



drawn by means of a " sweep " or long pole, supported in the 
middle by an upright post (having in its top a "crotch"), 
weighted at one end to balance the smaller " well-pole " 
attached to the other end, and playing up and down in the 
well to hoist the "bucket." These also were uniformly of 
"home manufacture." 

Within one or two years from starting in life here, Mr. 
Hodge owned a yoke of oxen, a cow and a few swarms of bees. 
Mrs. Hodge had, also, her flock of geese, in which she took 
great delight. From their feathers she made several feather 
beds, which in those times were considered indispensable. 
Mattresses of hair and other materials were not then even 
thought of in this western country. 

At this period, in 1807, Mr. Hodge commenced manufactur- 
ing fanning-mills, working at the business with his own hands 
for some time. The cast-iron running-gear and wire screens 
for these mills he was at first obliged to procure from the east. 
But this was attended with much delay and expense ; and 
sometimes, when he received the screens they would not be of 
the right size, or the kind he wanted. So he finally concluded 
to try and manufacture his own screens, having in the mean 
time employed help in making the mills. Determined to suc- 
ceed in this undertaking, he traveled on foot about two hun- 
dred miles, to a place near Utica, for the purpose of learning 
the art of screen-making from a man there engaged in the 
business. Making with this man a bargain that for ten dollars 
he should furnish him all the information he needed on the 
subject, he examined the loom, "reeds," " harness," etc., took 
the dimensions of all, and walked back to Buffalo. He went 
to work immediately and built a loom. He also made the 
necessary reeds and harness, which was the most difficult 
part of the work. It was especially troublesome to construct 
those which were needed for making the finest screens. After 
getting some wire flattened by running it between iron rollers, 
which he was enabled to do through the courtesy of Abraham 



Larzalere, the jeweler in the village, and with the help of his 
near neighbor Staley, who was a weaver of cloth, he finally 
succeeded to his satisfaction. From this time forward, besides 
making the screens for the fanning-mills, he manufactured and 
sold many thousands of wire "riddles" for grain, and fine 
sieves for Indian meal. He also furnished many rolling screens 
for grist-mills in different parts of this country and in Canada. 

This manufacture of screens Mr. Hodge continued with suc- 
cess and profit for twenty-five years. He succeeded so well 
that with the assistance and co-operation of Whipple Hawkins, 
(father of the late Henry H. Hawkins of Silver Creek) then re- 
siding near us on the north-east corner of the present Main and 
Utica streets, a blacksmith by trade, whose shop was near at 
hand, he attempted the manufacture of the castings and gear- 
ings for his mills, by using the common forge with one bellows, 
and charcoal for melting the iron. He succeeded in making 
very perfect castings, but did not long continue this branch of 
business. I believe I am quite safe in saying that this was the 
first cast-iron furnace started in Buffalo. Something of a con- 
trast appears between this and Buffalo's great furnaces of the 
present day. 

I should say here, that Mr. Whipple Hawkins, who thus 
assisted in promoting the success of the pioneer foundry of 
Buffalo, in after years extemporized the forging of the wrought- 
iron work and fixtures for the old cast-iron mortar which did 
such valuable service in driving piles for forming Buffalo 
harbor, under the superintendence of the late Judge Samuel 
Wilkeson. 

After Mr. Hodge had become permanently settled in Buffalo,' 
he tried to buy the sixty-acre lot No. 57, which was on the 
hill, at the south-west corner of our Main and Utica streets. 
Mr. Joseph Husten, the owner of the "article " from the Hol- 
land Land Company, at first refused to sell it, as he had a 
nursery of apple trees growing from seed which he had planted 
on the lot, and intended to make the place his own home. 



The purchase was however finally made, — about the year 1809 
or 1810. The price paid was $250.00 for the "article," and 
whatever was still due at the Holland Land Company's office, 
perhaps $300.00 or $400.00 more. Ten acres of the west end 
of the lot were, however, to be deeded to Michael Hunt, the 
first owner of the "article." Six dollars per acre was then 
the price of land in that neighborhood. 

The "nursery" before mentioned was the first planted on 
this western frontier. The nursery business was from this 
beginning prosecuted by Mr. Hodge until 1834, when he sold 
out to Mr. Abner Bryant, who owned and occupied the adjoin- 
ing farm-lot No. 56. The great part of the apple orchards in 
this part of Western New York originated from Mr. Hodge's 
nursery. 

Persevering in his business, he prospered and determined to 
make this lot No. 57, his future home. I have often heard him 
say that he made money very fast at this period, in the log 
house, at the tavern business. The five-pail kettle was kept 
over the fire much of the time, cooking meat. In 18 12, after 
the war began, the soldiers thronged the place, desiring, 
besides liquors, what they called "cold hack" or a "cold 
cut." The price of cold meals was 25 cents; of whiskey, 12-^ 
cents a gill; of horse-keeping, on hay, $i.co a span per day; 
of pats from $1.00 to $2.00 per bushel. All during the war, 
and for some time afterwards, hay and grain sold for high 
prices, hay being sometimes worth $30.00 per ton. 

Business in the tavern line being thus prosperous, my 
father had, in 181 1, decided to put up, on his lot No. 57, a 
brick building, large and commodious, and suitable for a 
public house. He accordingly commenced the undertaking 
in that year. The brick were manufactured by Nathan 
Tolas on Mr. Hodge's lot No. 35. The lumber was mostly 
procured "on shares," at Erastus Granger's saw-mill; Mr. 
Hodge attending the mill in the night-time, sawing the lum- 
ber, and having one-fourth of what he could thus produce. 



for himself. It was only in the night that he could have op- 
portunity for this. Building of brick was a rare undertaking 
then in this wilderness; indeed it is admitted that this was the 
first brick house built in Buffalo. Some of the neighbors 
thought that Mr. Hodge was very presumptuous, in planning 
with his limited means to erect such a building as this, for it 
was 30 by 40 feet on the ground, two stories high with an 
attic; the kitchen-part being one story and a half in height. 
And then, in June, 1812, the "Last War" with England com- 
menced, and the house was not yet finished. Part of our army, 
composed mostly of Pennsylvania troops, were in the fall en- 
camped" on the hills in front of the log house, that is, on lots 
Nos. 58 and 59, owned by Christjohn Staley and William 
De Shay. But although he knew and took into account the 
risk there was in building so near the frontier, Mr. Hodge per- 
severed and completed his new house amid the tumults and 
excitements of the time. He also built for it a large framed 
barn, and moved his horse-shed from the other lot, to a spot 
near by. The venture was a success, and in the latter part of 
December, 1812, Mr. Hodge entered and occupied the premises 
which became and long continued well known far and near, as 
"The Brick Tavern on the hill." 

In 1813, "times were lively;" the tavern business continued 
good, and Mr. Hodge was busily occupied in manufacturing 
mills. In the winter of 1812-1813, he furnished many pine 
coffins, nearly three hundred in all, for soldiers who died 
while encamped on " Flint Hill," north of Conjockety's creek. 

At this time Mr. Job Hoisington worked for Mr. Hodge, 
making mills and coffins, and occupying the log house from 
which the latter had removed to the "Brick Tavern." 

While the war continued the "Brick Tavern" was quite a 
central place; for a company of horsemen belonging to our 
army was stationed there, and a "twenty-four-pounder" was 
placed on the hill in front, which was discharged regularly, 
about break of day, as the signal gun. 



But the war came nearer than the stationing of troops and 
firing of signals. On the morning of December 30, 1813, the 
British crossed Niagara river below Conjockety's creek, and 
were first discovered by a patrol of this company of horsemen. 
They brought the information to Mr. Hodge, about three 
o'clock in the morning, and it was an entire surprise to him, 
for he had supposed that our army, which was stationed down 
in the village, would drive the enemy back, and had made no 
provision for removing his family out of reach of danger, if 
our troops were defeated. But all in the house were aroused, 
on the arrival of the news of the enemy's crossing. The 
engagement between the British and Americans took place at 
about day-break, and our army scattered and fled. The fields 
and highways were soon filled with these fugitives, running to 
save their lives, and with the inhabitants following after, men, 
women and children, a few in wagons, but the most of them 
on foot. 

Mr. Hodge now began to realize the necessity of moving his 
family away. So he directed his hired man to yoke up the 
oxen, the only team he then had, hitch them to the cart, and 
drive up to the door; but instead of doing this, the coward 
ran off with the rest of the frightened multitude. 

After the greater part of the people had fled, Mr. Hodge 
succeeded in engaging an army baggage-wagon, which was 
driven to the door. Some bedding and clothing were hurried 
in. The family, consisting of Mrs. Hodge, her sister Mrs. 
Howes, and the five children, Sally, William, Sophia, Philander 
and Julia A. (the youngest, and but two months old), were 
placed in the wagon on the bedding and clothing, and carried 
out about twelve miles to " Harris Hill Tavern," three miles 
east of Williamsville. 

The day was cold, though not extremely so. The ground 
was frozen, with a light covering of snow. After the family 
had gone, Mr. Hodge, entirely alone and anxious to save 
something more, yoked the oxen, hitched them to the cart^ 



iDrought it up to the door, flung in some more bedding, a baking 
of bread, which he came across in the large wooden bread- 
tray, and a few other articles, and drove off. As he thus left 
his own home, he looked towards the village, and saw the 
smoke of its burning houses rising high in the air, and ex- 
pected nothing but that he would be obliged after all to leave 
his team and run for his life ; for the " British Indians " 
.had been seen at the edge of the woods, some sixty rods west 
of the house, before he left. But it so happened that he was 
not molested in his flight. He drove out to the Harris Hill 
Tavern, and had the joy of finding his family all safe. 

The next day he took his ox-team and returned to his house, 
and found things there pretty much as he had left them. He 
further understood that the enemy had gone back, across the 
river. So he went again out to Harris Hill, without removing 
anything more from the house, and intending to take his family 
back within a few days. 

But the day following, that is, January i, 1814, as he was 
again returning to his deserted home, and had arrived within 
about a mile and a half, and in sight of it (on Flint Hill, 
between Col. William W. Chapin's and Conjockety's creek), he 
discovered that the enemy vveie there, and that the house was 
on fire. He at once stopped in the road with his team, until 
a company of our horsemen came in sight, who overtook and 
passed him, near Conjockety's creek. When he came within 
eighty rods of the house, he found one of his neighbors, Rich- 
ard Keep, a blacksmith, lying dead by the side of the road, 
having been shot by the enemy. He helped to carry the body 
into. a house, picked up Mr. Keep's rifle and went up the hill 
into his own burning house. He was' quite alone, and could 
save next to nothing from the building, as the roof was already 
falling in. The outside cellar-doors and part of the wooden 
water-conductor he wrenched off and saved. Then, with rifle 
in hand, he crossed the road to his barn, hoping to meet some 
of the enemy. He felt that he must take vengeance on the 



13 

despoilers, or that his life might as well go with his property.. 
But he neither obtained vengeance nor lost his life, and at 
evening he again went out to Harris Hill and remained there 
till the following Thursday. Then he brought his family back 
with the few household goods he had saved, just one week 
after their flight, only to find their home and property destroyed; 
they being the first who returned after the burning. 

With his usual energy, he went to work and built an addi- 
tion to a small framed shop-house on the premises, which the 
enemy had not destroyed, and into which he had moved. 
This was the second frame erected after the burning. The 
first was put up by Ralph Pomeroy, who had been a tavern- 
keeper near the north-east corner of Main and Seneca streets. 

Mr. Hodge continued to keep a public house, but it was a 
winter of constant fear and frequent alarms. The whole fron- 
tier was throughout the season left almost entirely unprotected, 
and nearly every night it would be reported that the enemy had 
again come over the river. Twice, during that winter and the 
spring following, the family packed up, and moved away for 
safety. The enemy in fact twice crossed the border, but 
were driven back by the small guard of soldiers stationed at 
this point, with the assistance of some of the few inhabitants 
who had returned. 

The families which were here, though so few in number, 
could procure no provisions except from the commissary of 
the army; and at that time little except salt provisions were 
furnished. But the soldiers would have fresh meat, even if it 
was poor, and they stole the only cow that Mr. Hodge pos- 
sessed, and killed her for beef, — indeed they stole every thing 
else that they could find, capable of being eaten. 

Mr. Hodge's family was one of six which had moved back 
and remained in the town through the winter of the burning, 
sharing the fears, the excitements and casualties of the war, 
by day and night. 

And now we see him, in his old home again, his property 



■mainly gone, but not so his energy. He persevered in the face 
of the difficulties and dangers of the situation; and with the 
courage of a true and experienced pioneer, he commenced re- 
building his brick house within the sound of the booming of 
cannon and rattle of musketry, which could be heard nearly 
every day. His life at this time was, indeed, not only that of 
a pioneer, but also that of a frontiersman just upon the lines 
of the two contending armies. And about this time, he was 
drafted into the army. But he procured a substitute, who was 
accepted. He paid him thirty dollars as bounty, and agreed 
to pay, in addition, ten dollars monthly, but was never called 
upon for the monthly payments. It was supposed that this 
substitute deserted. 

After this extremely trying winter of 1813-1814, spring 
opened with more hope for the little remnant of families which 
were here. Troops were sent on, to protect this frontier. 
Many of the inhabitants returned to the burnt village and 
began to rebuild their houses, etc., though these were of the 
most primitive and cheap do-for-the-present kind. 

In December, 1814, Mr. Hodge occupied his rebuilt brick 
house, and went on there with his business as keeper of a 
tavern. He also continued his nursery, and did a considera- 
ble amount of farming, using most of his produce, however, 
in carrying on the tavern. 

In the early part of the year 1815, the war closed, with the 
declaration of peace, and there was good reason for the inhab- 
itants here to expect better times. Mr. Hodge increased his 
fanning-mill business, and the manufacture of rolling screens, 
wire sieves and riddles. He also, for about two years, kept a 
store of goods in the brick tavern house. Such a store, in 
those times, contained a miscellaneous stock of dry-goods, 
crockery, hardware, liquors, tea, coffee, sugars, etc. 

But within a year or two after the war, business began to 
decline. Many became financially embarrassed, Mr. Hodge 
among the number. He struggled along for several years, and 



15 

selling out the goods he had on hand, continued his other 
business on a reduced scale. But his embarrassment became 
such, that as a last, and indeed only resort, he called on a 
friend living in the interior of the state to help him, which he 
did, and thus prevented the loss of all the property he pos- 
sessed. His friend (Dr. Joseph White of Cherry Valley, a 
cousin of his, mentioned already), came to Buffalo, paid the 
debt Mr. Hodge was owing, and took into his possession 
all the real estate he held, consisting of about one hundred 
and fifty acres of land, in the immediate neighborhood, 
being farm lots Numbers 57, ;^^ and 35. Dr. White held 
the title of these pieces of land about eleven years, the as- 
signment to him having been made, as I find upon a memor- 
andum, November 6, 1819. Yet business was so very dull, 
and money was so scarce, that Mr. Hodge was at times unable 
to pay even the interest as it fell due. 

In the spring of 1825, he commenced the manufacture of 
bricks, in company with Mr. Uriah Sill. They made a very 
good summer business of this. 

In the fall, the Erie Canal having been just completed, 
Governor De Witt Clinton and sm'^e came to Buffalo to cele- 
brate the occasion by a formal opening. The plan for this 
was to take boat here, make the complete trip on the canal 
from Buffalo to Albany and down the river to New York, 
carrying with them v/ater from Lake Erie, and there mingle 
the waters of the lake with those of the ocean. Some 
of the citizens of Buffalo joined the Governor's company on 
this auspicious occasion; and Mr. Hodge and his wife were 
among the number. Before returning, Mr. Hodge visited the 
nurseries on Long Island, and made a purchase of trees for his 
Buffalo nursery, from Mr. Bloodgood. 

He continued the manufacture of bricks with tolerable suc- 
cess. This enabled him to make yearly payments on the debt 
he was owing to Dr. White, and in December, 1831, he went 
to Cherry Valley and settled with him in full, — paying him 



i6 

the whole amount due with interest, and taking his property 
again into his own hands. The transfer bears date December 
29, 1831. 

Having during all these years been, as is thus seen, en- 
terprising and active, Mr. Hodge had in fact transacted a 
large amount cf business, having dealings with many individ- 
uals. Withal, he was ever ready to give credit to those in 
straitened circumstances, and to sell them property they 
needed, but he never oppressed them by enforcing collection 
of what was due him. Thus he lost thousands of dollars^ 
through being lenient with his debtors, when men of selfish^ 
grasping disposition would have demanded payment to the full. 
The then legal process of imprisonment for debt was one to 
which he would not resort. 

In 1830, after "keeping tavern" about twenty-three years,, 
Mr. Hodge gave up that part of his business operations. He 
increased that of brick-making, however, with fair success, 
until about the year 1840. In one season he had manufac- 
tured as many as three millions. 

At this time, he was free from debt, and had a few thousand 
dollars in cash; and when the Free Banking Law of the State 
of New York was passed, he was induced to go into the bank- 
ing business with Judge Pierre A. Barker, and his own son, 
Philander Hodge. His chief object in doing this, was that he- 
might raise money with which to put up a block of brick 
buildings on the north-west corner of Main and Chippewa 
streets. He said that he was considerably advanced in life, 
and wanted to get that block built, for the benefit of his. 
family. 

In going into this banking business, Mr. Hodge was to 
furnish the mortgage securities, with his son, Philander, and 
Pierre A. Barker was to procure stocks to an equal amount, as 
required by the Free Banking Law. The result was, that Mr. 
Hodge furnished the greater part of the mortgage securities, 
and became holden for the purchase money for all the stocks. 



17 

Subsequently, he was obliged to pay the whole, and thereby 
became involved, to a large amount. 

In the meantime, he had erected the " Chippewa" block of 
brick buildings, as he had been anxious to do. In accomplishing 
this he had used all his own available means, but had drawn 
only about twelve thousand dollars from the bank, while his 
partners had used nearly thirty thousand, without furnishing a 
proportionate amount of securities, — Mr. Barker having done 
very little in this direction. 

Meanwhile Mr. Hodge had executed a mortgage and depos- 
ited it with the Bank Department, as security on the property 
occupied by the block of buildings. All of this he lost in the 
closing up of the Bank business, and a heavy debt remained 
upon him. 

In these transactions Mr. Hodge lost about eighty thousand 
dollars; and was not free from the embarrassment thus caused, 
for a number of years. 

But, after much trouble and perplexity, by reason of a suit- 
at-law concerning these affairs, which continued several years, 
the matter was finally, in the spring of 1847, settled by a com- 
promise with the party contestant. 

From this time forward, Mr. Hodge was, as he had ever 
been, active in business, and more cheerful and buoyant in 
mind than in these trying days. He felt sure of being able to 
pay his debts out of his property, and yet of having enough 
left to place himself and his family in a comfortable condition. 
And in this anticipation he passed the remainder of his life. 

To the end he retained the esteem of his acquaintances. In 
most of the forty-three years of his residence in Buffalo, he 
held some office of importance in the town, such as Commis- 
sioner, Assessor and Magistrate. Yet he was not an ambitious 
man, seeking popularity or place. He was, nevertheless, truly 
public-spirited, being one of the foremost to engage in enter- 
prises for the good of the ocmmunity, even, many times, going 
beyond what his means would warrant. With willing hands 



i8 

and energetic mind carrying on, as has been described, many 
kinds of business, he gave employment to many persons. By his 
own exertions, and through the hard labor, industrious habits, 
and good character of his family of ten children, amid toil 
and privations, and some most severe struggles, as well as in 
prosperous times, he did his part towards building up this 
great city of now two hundred and fifty thousand inhabitants. 

Mr. Hodge was confiding in his disposition, and ready to 
trust in men when dealing with them; but when he found them 
unworthy of confidence, he avoided them. He noiselessly pur- 
sued the "even tenor of his way." He was quiet and uniform 
in temper, and domestic in his habits, ever disposed to promote 
peace and good order, urbane, kind and courteous in manners, 
and honorable in his dealings. Seeking to do to others as 
he would have them do to him, he was respected as a neighbor, 
useful as a citizen, and dearly beloved as a husband, a father 
and a friend. 

And, in later years, through the severe and trying dispensa- 
tions of Providence, — reverses that deprived him of the large 
property he had accumulated, and bereavements that weighed 
upon him most heavily, — he was led by the guidance of the 
Divine Spirit, to seek after a better than all earthly treasure, 
and to receive the gospel of salvation, as his only hope and 
trust. Accordingly, on the first day of January, 1843, he was 
admitted into the communion of the First Presbyterian Church, 
Buffalo, on public profession of his faith in Christ. More and 
more, by those repeated admonitions, especially by the death 
of a beloved daughter, his mind was directed toward the 
better, brighter world, and when at length the final summons 
came, he was not unprepared, but calmly acquiesced in the 
will of God. 

On the Sabbath morning previous to his death, he was in 
his accustomed place among the worshipers in the sanctuar 
to all appearance in usual health. But before another sun had 
risen, he was seized with an attack of sickness which proved 



19 

fatal, and in the short space of twenty hours, he was removed 
from his earthly activities, joys and sorrows, by death, — the 
date being, Monday, September i8, 1848. 

His funeral was attended at his late residence, on the 
Wednesday following, by a large co>ncourse of friends, who 
deeply sympathized with the sorrowing family, and warmly 
acknowledged that in the death of William Hodge the com- 
munity had sustained no common loss. These friends also 
followed his remains to their quiet resting-place in the High 
Street Cemetery, whence in later years they were transferred 
to Forest Lawn. It was fitting indeed that they should first be 
buried and should remain for years, within a cemetery which 
was shaded by perhaps two hundred trees of his own plant- 
ing, and whose very soil had been the property of one of his 
children; and within the bounds of two burial lots which were 
made his own in return for his services in thus beautifying 
the Cemetery. 





-tAAX) 





ILLUSTRATIVE MISCELLANIES. 



A.— THE COLD SPRING. 

[See page 4, line 28.] 



It seems to me a great pity, a public loss, that " The Cold 
Spring " (about two and three-quarters miles from Buffalo 
Creek, on the Williamsville road or Main street, where it takes a 
northeastward course), a noted spot ever since the first settling 
of this frontier town, and prominent in the War of 1812-15, 
should have been destroyed in the laying of the Bird Avenue 
sewer. On this account, and because this spring, and the tavern- 
stand beside it, will be so often referred to in these papers, 
I here give some account of the spring itself, and of those 
who have occupied the position of "mine host" in' its far- 
famed hostelry. But I will first say something about some of 
the other springs of water in this vicinity, the traces of nearly 
all of which have disappeared. Mention will also be found of 
some of them in another paper upon roads and early traveling. 

Tradition says that Indians, in going from their reservation 
near Buffalo, to Tonawanda, would first come to the spring 
on, I think, lot No. 37 (which lay north of our Best street 
and 30 or 40 rods from Jefferson street). In the first settling 
of this town this spring was pretty well known, as being a 
place where cattle sometimes got "mired," and could not get 
out without help. So when the settlers' cows were not found, 
or did not come home in the course of the night, the first place 
where they were looked for in the morning was that miry spring. 
In early days I have been there a great many times, and drank 
of its water. I have also found pieces of pottery, made of 
clay, around it. • 



From this spring the Indians would come to the "Cold Spring," 
to the spring on the Staley lot 58, or to the Jubilee spring, on lot 
62, and thence to the springs along Conjockety's Creek. One of 
the latter springs was on the south side of the creek, near the 
old fording-place; one was reached immediately after crossing, 
northward; a third was about fifty rods farther on, upon the 
east side of " John's Meadow " (now covered by the beautiful 
lake in the Park), and perhaps thirty rods north of the creek, 
and still another near the north side of this meadow, and 
near the line between the Granger and Chapin farms. 

In the last two named, we used to push down poles ten or 
more feet in length. The last mentioned spring was on the 
flat, and not near the bank of the creek, and where the water 
ran out and all around it, the ground was higher than it was at 
a distance of ten feet or so away. The material of this rim 
seemed to be what is called bog-iron-ore. 

It was a considerate and wise act of Joseph Ellicott as agent 
and surveyor for the Holland Land Company, to lay out and 
establish the road connecting The East and The West through 
Buffalo so as to take the large and noble "Cold Spring" in 
its course, for the public benefit. I remember it well when it 
was in its primitive state. It was surrounded by bluff banks, 
excepting on the north-east side, where the pure cool stream 
flowed forth. It was then about as large as the basin which 
was afterwards walled up to accumulate and hold the water. 

Up to about 1816 or 1818 there were three pretty large trees, 
of fifteen or twenty inches diameter, growing around the Spring 
and next to its edge, at the bottom of the surrounding bluff. 
The largest of these was a yellow birch, which grew on the 
southeast side, — the side towards the tavern-house; one of the 
other trees was, I think, a soft maple, standing on the east side, 
or a little south of east; and the third was an oak, on the west 
side, and nearest to the main road. These trees all leaned 
their tops inward over the spring. Originally the banks were 
somewhat sloping, and steps were cut into the steepest part. 



23 

on the south side, by which to go down to a plank which 
extended several feet over the bubbling and boiling water. 
Lying stretched out on this plank, face downward, many a one 
has here slaked his thirst in the days gone by, and from that 
plank many a pail and jug has been filled with the pure cool 
beverage. This spring never froze, and the water was of about 
the same temperature summer and winter. 

The banks of the spring were eventually lowered, and a wall 
was built, with steps at one side, by which to reach the never- 
failing water collected there. 

The stream which ran from the spring was formerly full 
of little fish, such as chubs, shiners, small rock bass, and 
other sorts. 

But no account of the spring would be complete without a 
notice of the Cold Spring Tavern. Though the spring has 
disappeared, there is a tavern-stand close by its soon-to-be- 
forgotten site, and on the same spot there has been one since 
1808, and I will give some account of those who have kept it 
from the commencement. 

A Mr. Russell was the first of these, and probably re- 
mained but a year or two. Next came for a short time, the 
firm of Saunders & Cooledge, and then Howes & Persons 
(Ebenezer Howes and Lyman Persons). They were keeping 
the house in the spring of 181 1, but Mr. Howes left it in the 
fall of that year, Mr. Persons continuing till 181 2, when Major 
Frederick Miller came in and kept it through the war. He 
had before that managed the ferry and tavern at Black Rock. 
About 1 81 7 he made an exchange of property with Mr. 
Franklin, taking his tavern-stand in the village of Williams- 
ville and occupying and managing it for some time. He sub- 
sequently removed to a farm near by, which he cultivated till 
he died, January 26, 1830, at the age of 70 years, Mr. Frank- 
lin was a very worthy Christian man, and kept the tavern for 
some time. He was succeeded by a Mr. Lyman, who kept it 
for about a year. Then came Charles Averill for a season or 



24 

so, giving place to a Mr. Walbridge, an excellent man, who 
in a year was followed by Beach & Higgins. Mr. Beach 
was quite an expert with the rifle, when rifles were not abund- 
ant. He also kept a blood-hound. David Hennion suc- 
ceeded Beach & Higgins about 1822. He was from New York 
City, a descendent of some of its Dutch settlers. Mr. Hen- 
nion was quite an enterprising man for those early times. 
Besides keeping the Cold Spring tavern, he carried on black- 
smithing, on the opposite side of the road. In the fall and 
early winter he collected a wagon-load of dressed poultry and 
took it to New York City. He also had in his employ a man 
who was quite expert in catching wild pigeons in a net. These 
he carried to New York and sold. Mr. Hennion also procured 
two large full-grown elks to take to New York as a " specula- 
tion." He kept the tavern from about 1822 to 1826, when 
Rudolph Barr, Washington Russell and a Mr. Lapp 
moved in, with their families. They came from Pennsylvania, 
Mr. Russell being Mr. Barr's son-in-law. He kept the tavern. 
The other two erected a brewery quite near the spring (Jacob 
Scott being the carpenter). As soon as the building was 
ready they began to make what they called "strong" beer, — 
the name "lager" was not then used here, — the first strong 
beer made in Buffalo. This was better and more pure than 
the beer now made here, and was not stupefying as most of 
this is. I do not think Barr and Lapp drugged or salted 
their beer. 

Mr. Russell kept the Cold Spring tavern about a year; when 
he gave it over to Mr. Barr. At about the same time Mr. Lapp 
dissolved partnership with Mr. Barr, who continued the tavern 
and brewing business till 1834, when Mr. Crisp came into the 
tavern. But he kept it only a short time when he became sick 
and died. 

Mr. Barr had built a dwelling-house near the tavern-stand, 
and moved into it with his family, residing there until his 
death, December 20, 1836. 



25 

After the death of Mr. Crisp, the tavern was continued by 
George Mosier. He also sickened and died in a short time, 
when Ebenezer Hopkins came in for a while, and after him 
Joseph Shaw, who was succeeded by Wolcott Vedder, and 
he by the two brothers, Augustus and Charles Barr. This 
was in 1839. Their father, Rudolph Barr, soon after he 
came here bought of William T. Miller the farm-lots 36 and 
37, which contained the Cold Spring tavern. These two 
brothers kept the tavern, together, until 1844, when Augustus 
withdrew and Charles continued until 1849. 

Who that has ever traveled the old Batavia Road since the 
year 1808, has not a recollection of " The Cold Spring Tavern "? 
In the War of 181 2-15, this was quite a central point on this 
frontier, and many of the officers of our army made it their 
stopping place. 

A duel with pistols, between two of our army officers, was 
fought there during that time. Its scene was the foot of the 
Cold Spring farm-lot (No. 36), at the little " run " near the 
corner of Ferry and Jefferson streets. The officers' names, 
I am sorry to say, I do not recollect. I remember, how- 
ever, that one of them was a surgeon. The surgeon, an 
expert duelist and a bully, saw fit to challenge the other, 
though he was an inexperienced officer, — inexperienced, at 
least, in the use of pistols, — for the purpose and with the inten- 
tion of getting him out of the way. The challenge was of course 
accepted, as in those warring times no honorable man when 
challenged would refuse to fight a duel. The challenged man 
expected to be killed, and so he chose as positions that the two 
should stand side by side, each to take hold of the same hand- 
kerchief with the left hand and hold his pistol in his right 
hand, and both were to fire on the command, "Ready, fire!" 
The experienced duelist, presenting the narrowest part of him- 
self to his antagonist, received his ball in his right side and fell 
and died immediately. The other, not thinking of the policy 
of exposing the smallest possible front to his enemy, stood 



26 

squarely facing him. He received the ball in front, and it 
passed through his breast, not touching any vital part. He 
survived, and lived for many years afterwards. 

Before the Erie Canal was finished, in 1825, this Cold Spring 
tavern was the stopping-place of the big five-, six- and seven- 
horse wagons, with tires six inches wide, which were used to 
transport goods from Albany to Buffalo, — the price of transpor- 
tation being $6.00 per hundred pounds. 

This was a place also where town-meetings and elections 
were held. Here, too, the young men and boys met to play 
old-fashioned "base ball," and have "shooting-matches," 
turkeys, geese and chickens being the game, 20 rods the dis- 
tance, and the expense sixpence a shot. The distance after a 
few years was increased to 35 and 40 rods, as some became 
quite expert with the rifle. The Cold Spring was a central 
point for these and other purposes, such as balls, singing- 
schools, etc., for those from Buffalo Village, Black Rock and 
Buffalo Plains. 

Here, too, as is elsewhere in these papers related, religious 
services were often held, while Mr. Franklin occupied the place. 



B._POPULATION OF BUFFALO, 1789-1884. 

[See page 5, line 9.] 



The idea that Buffalo did not seem likely " to become much 
of a place," suggests the insertion here of an exhibit of its 
increase in population in less than a century, from a single 
person to 250,000. 

In 1 79 1, or probably as early as 1789, and for some years 
thereafter, one white man, Cornelius Winne, lived where after- 
wards "Lake Erie" settlement on Buffalo creek (which later 
became Buffalo), was established. 



27 

In 1794, only three white persons were known as living on 
the present site of Buffalo. 

In 1795, there were four or five houses, and perhaps 20 or 
25 people here. 

In 1805, the year in which my father came to Buffalo, it was 
composed, as I have often heard him say, of "about a dozen 
white families," and was named " New Amsterdam," and 
" Buffalo Creek." 

In 1809, 43 families constituted Buffalo, or " Buffalo Creek " 
as it was then also called. 

In 181.0, the village contained "30 to 40 houses," and the 
population may be estimated at from 150 to 200. 

In 181 1, the population was computed at 500 by a traveler; 
probably too large an estimate. 

In April,' 1813, when the village was incorporated, it con- 
tained about 100 houses, and perhaps 400 or 500 people. 

In 1820, the whole Town of Buffalo contained 2,095 inhab- 
itants. 

In T821, the County of Niagara, comprising then the present 
Niagara and Erie counties, contained 23,313 inhabitants. 

In 1825, the Village of Buffalo contained 2,412 inhabitants, 
and the Village of Black Rock 1,031; both together, on terri- 
tory now all within the city, 3,443. 

In 1828, when the first Directory was published, there were 
about 3,000 inhabitants in Buffalo Village. 

In 1830, there were 8,680 inhabitants here. 

In 1832, when the village became a city, by incorporation, the 
population numbered, according to the City Directory, 10,119. 

The number of inhabitants has, since 1832, increased as fol- 
lows: There were in 1835, 15,661; in 1840, 18,213; ^^ 1845, 
29,773; in 1850, 42,261; in 1855, 74,414 (the city being that 
year extended in territory from North street, etc., outward); 
in i860, 81,129; i'^ 1865, 94,502; in 1870, 118,000; in 1875, 
140,000; in 1880, 154,000; in 1884, it is believed there are 
225,000; some estimating the present population at 250,000. 



28 

C— BUFFALO VILLAGE FAMILIES IN 1806. 

[See page 5, line 29.] 



The following descriptive list was furnished to me, from 
memory, in 1856, by my uncle, Lorin Hodge, late of Jefferson, 
Ohio, who came to Buffalo in 1806. This list comprises cer- 
tainly the heads of most of the families at that time forming 
the population of Buffalo Village. 

I. — Zenas Barker was an inn-keeper. He occupied a 
double log house located about six rods west of Main street, 
on the bluff (now the Terrace) facing south. 

2. — John Crow, an inn-keeper, occupied a log house on the 
south side of Crow (now Exchange) street, so named after 
him, and between Main and Washington streets, near Washing- 
ton. The latter street extended then only as far south as Crow. 

3. — Erastus Granger had his office in one end of Crow's 
log tavern, he being Collector of the Port of Buffalo. 

4. — Joshua Gillet was a merchant, and had his store east 
of Barker's tavern on the corner of Main street and the (Ter- 
race) bluff. 

5. — Vincent Grant, a merchant, was located on the west 
side of Main street, near Seneca. 

6. — Louis Stephen LeCouteulx kept a drug-store oppo- 
site John Crow's tavern, on the north side of Crow street. He 
was at that time Town Clerk. There are numbers yet living 
who remember this polite Frenchman. He was a true gentle- 
man in every sense of the word, and highly educated, but a 
refugee from France, obliged to leave his country or lose his 
head. He was indeed "of the old school." To the end of 
his life he continued to wear large silver shoe- and knee- 
buckles with long stockings and short breeches, — his queue, 
wound tastefully and neatly with a ribbon, displaying itself 
from under his hat, pendent at the back of his head. 

7, 8. — Maybee and Johnson were merchants. Their store 



29 

adjoined that of M. LeCouteulx on the east. They dealt in 
Indian goods. Mr. Johnson had an Indian wife, and was of 
Tory memory. 

9. — Capt. Samuel Pratt was a merchant. His store was 
west of, and next to, Crow's tavern, and his dwelling adjoined 
it, still farther west, standing on the corner of Main and Crow 
streets, where the Mansion House now is. 

10. — William Hull, a silversmith, had his store on the east 
side of Main street, between Crow and Seneca. 

1 1 . — David Reese, a blacksmith for the Indians, had his dwel- 
ling on the southeast corner of Washington and Seneca streets, 
and his shop opposite, on the northeast corner, now occupied 
by the United States Custom House and Postofifice building. 

12. — William Robbins had a blacksmith-shop near Vincent 
Grant's store, on the west side of Main street. His dwelling 
house was built of hewn logs, and stood in the rear, that is, 
west of his shop. 

13. — Doctor Cyrenius Chapin lived on Main street, near 
the "Square," and "in the bushes" as it was then called, the 
lot where the Chapin block and Weed block now stand, on 
Swan street, north side, between Main and Pearl. 

14, 15. — Michael Middaugh and his son-in-law, Ezekiel 
Lane, lived on Main street, near Little Buffalo Creek, on the 
south end of Samuel Pratt's lot. 

16. — Black Joe lived in a small log shanty, situated "on 
the flat " near Little Buffalo Creek, on the east side of Main 
street, near Middaugh's. The shanty was covered with bark. 
Joe kept a low class groggery. He had a white woman for a 
wife (Mr. Ketchum says in his history of Buffalo, an Indian 
woman). He left the place in 1807, for Maiden, Canada 
(Mr. Ketchum says he "moved to Cattaraugus Creek"). 

17. — A Mr. Mann was at this time living here, whose exact 
location is not remembered. He married a daughter of Mr. 
Lane, a granddaughter of Mr. Middaugh. 

18. — John Despar, a Frenchman, was a baker. His house 



30 

and bake-shop stood on the east side of Washington street, 
between Crow and Seneca. He supplied most of the inhabi- 
tants with their bread and cakes. In 1815 or thereabouts, he 
bought a farm-lot on the south side of the "Cayuga Road," 
now Best street, and on the east side of Jefferson street. 
Genesee street, when laid out at a later date, crossed this 
farm near the south end. This place he made his home, 
having become dissipated and quit his business. He after- 
wards sold the farm to Mr. William Smith, who was the first 
person to supply the residents of the village with milk as a 
regular dairyman. His bargain was that Smith should pay him 
two hundred dollar a year, as long as he and his wife lived, 
he giving for this consideration a deed of the farm. Despar 
and his wife both died within two years after this sale to Smith. 



D.— OUR TAVERN IN THE LOG HOUSE. 

[See page 6, line 17.] 



This noble mansion consisted of two rooms on the lower floor, 
with a wide hall between them. It had battened doors, naked 
peeled beams, and windows of 7x9 glass. The north room was 
used as a parlor, sitting-room, main kitchen and dining-room. 
The south room was the more public one. It could not be 
mistaken as one looked toward the right on entering by the 
front door into the hall. There the eye was caught by large 
black letters on an unpainted door, telling the visitor to 
" Walk IN," — and there too was the " latch-string," hanging 
on the outer side of the door. This room also contained 
the bar, which was partitioned off in one corner. Under 
the shelves stood the whiskey and cider barrels, and on 
them were the kegs of brandy, rum and gin, and one or two 
kinds of wine, — as Madeira and Port. Maybe there was also 
there a keg of shrub or peppermint cordial, and occasionally 
one of metheglin. Sometimes, in the proper season, the bar 



3^ 

would contain a barrel of spruce beer, home- made, of course, — 
as also was the metheglin. There was no lager beer in those 
days, and the whiskey was more pure and consequently less 
injurious than that of the present time. 

The sugar-box and money-drawer were made to slide under 
the front counter-board. The white sugar then used in the 
bar and on the table came in high, tapering solid cakes, called 
sugar-loaves, done up in coarse brown or black paper, and was 
known as loaf sugar. A few may yet be seen, now and then, at 
some stores. 

The liquors sold at the bar were always measured out in the 
wine-glass and gill-cup, or in larger quantities when desired. 
Cider was sold by the pint or quart, red peppers being added; 
and in cold weather it was set upon coals and embers to heat. 
The mixed drinks furnished at the bar were termed " slings," 
and were made of sugar-water and brandy, rum or gin, well 
stirred with the "sugar-stick." Hot slings were made the 
same way, except that a hot iron was put in, to temper them, 
a slight sprinkling of nutmeg being regularly added. 

A " sangaree" was made in the same way, using wine in- 
stead of the stronger liquors. Nearly all were as much in the 
habit of using these different kinds of liquors as beverages, as 
people now are of using tea, coffee, and even milk. 

The fire-place in this bar-room and that in the north room 
were without "jambs," — the chimneys being built with split 
sticks and plastered. That in the north room was furnished 
with a "trammel-pole," and "trammel" with hooks to match, 
for hanging kettles, etc., over the fire. The hearths were made 
of stones gathered from the fields. 

The chamber rooms were used for sleeping purposes. 
An addition built on the east side of the bar-room was used 
as a back kitchen and wash-room. It had a sloping roof, 
being a "lean-to." The fire-place was built in one corner 
of it, and the chimney and hearth were of the same materials 
as those in the other rooms. 



32 

E.— BUFFALO IN 1809. 

[See page g, line i.] 



The following, from an article contributed by me to the 
Buffalo Commercial Advertiser, December 30, 1872, will serve 
to give some idea of what Buffalo was at this time. It is a copy 
of a letter written by Judge Granger to Hon. Albert Gallatin, 
then Secretary of the Treasury of the United States. 

Buffalo, Oct. 20, 1809. 
Hon. a. Gallatin: 

Sir: — During the last session of Congress I noticed the passing of a reso- 
lution for instructing the Committee on Commerce and Manufactures to en- 
quire into the expediency of removing the Custom-houses in the districts of 
Niagara and Buffalo Creek from fort Niagara to Lewiston, and from Buffalo 
to Black Rock. I have since understood that Col. Peter B. Porter, member 
from this State, was the mover of the resolution. That there may be reasons 
for removing the Custom-house in the former place I do not deny, but to re- 
move the latter at this time, I think would be highly improper. Believing 
that I am correct in opinion, and believing also that to remain silent on the 
subject would be a neglect of duty which I owe to you, the head of the 
Revenue Department, I hasten to communicate a brief statement of facts 
for your consideration. 

The Village of Buffalo, where the Custom-house is now kept, is situate 
near the mouth of Buffalo creek, and at the outlet of Lake Erie. It is a 
good harbor for boats. Vessels often lie off at the mouth of the creek and 
receive loading. The place is fast increasing in population and business; 
it already contains forty-three families, besides a number of young gentle- 
men who are settled here in professional and mercantile pursuits. 

It is the seat of justice for the County of Niagara, and has a handsome 
Court-house and Jail nearly completed. Most of the importations heretofore 
from Canada have been made by the citizens of this place. Its situation for 
obtaining information of what is passing in the district is superior to any 
other place. 

Black Rock is opposite the rapids in Niagara River, and is only two and 
a quarter miles from the center of the Village of Buffalo, as the road 
now goes." 

That this expression, "as the road now goes," may be fully 
understood, I observe that at the date of this letter, the 



33 

traveled road from Buffalo to Black Rock was on the beach 
from the mouth of Buffalo creek down the river. The proba- 
bility is that the road, now called Niagara street, had but 
lately been cut out, and though open, was not in a condition 
to be much used. Mr. Granger, wishing to make a statement 
as favorable for Buffalo as facts would allow, seemed to antici- 
pate Niagara street's becoming the road, for travel, between the 
two places. The letter continues: 

"The land for a considerable distance below and above Black Rock, is 
owned by the State of New York, and no law is yet passed for the selling of 
it. A Mr. Miller has built a temporary house at the Rock, under the bank 
of the river, where a terryhouse and tavern are kept. 

Messrs. Porter, Barton & Co., have built a store on the Rock; one other 
white family and two black families compose the inhabitants of the place. 
About three-fourths of a mile below the Rock there are two other families 
living on land belonging to Messrs. Porter & Co. 

The vessels employed in the navigation of Lake Erie, when in port, lie at 
the head of the rapids in the Niagara river, and a little below a reef of 
rocks called Bird Island. At this place they receive and discharge their 
loading by boats. The distance of this place from Black Rock is one mile, 
and from Buffalo one and three-fourths miles; making the difference in 
favor of the former only three-fourths of a mile. 

The land opposite Bird Island is owned by the State. There is some 
business done on the lake in open boats. These uniformly use the harbor 
of Buffalo Creek. 

I cannot say but in time it wHl be expedient to remove the Custom-house 
from Buffalo, but at present I do not conceive there is any necessity for, or 
propriety in, the measure. 

I have no private motives, or personal interest in opposing the measure, 
for should I be continued as the Collector, I could as well do the business 
at Black Rock as at Buffalo, provided I could buy a piece of land on which 
to build an office, and not become a squatter on others' land. 

I will only observe that the foregoing statement is founded on facts, and 
I pledge myself to prove it by unquestionable testimony if necessary. 

I have the honor to be, sir, with great respect, your obedient, humble 
servant, ERASTUS GRANGER." 

It is evident from this letter, that Judge Granger had no 
desire to remove the oflfice of Collector of Customs to Black 



34 

Rock, and he undoubtedly gave the full and correct quota of 
the population of Buffalo at that time, namely, forty-three 
families, besides the single young men referred to. At the time 
of writing he was not only Collector, but also Postmaster and 
Superintendent of Indian Affairs, which offices he held from 
1803, the time of his coming to Buffalo, until 1818. The 
office of Superintendent of Indian Affairs he moved from 
Canandaigua to this place. He was the first Postmaster, and 
in 1803 established the first Post-office here, under Government. 

On the organization of the original Niagara County, in 1808, 
of which Buffalo was the county-seat, he was appointed one of 
the Judges for the county. 

This letter is authentic, and from one who had means of 
knowing the facts as to the Village of Buffalo at that time, 
equal to if not better than those of any other person. Tlie 
statement made by him would not be questioned by any of 
the first settlers here. 



F.— COLD SPRING SCHOOL DISTRICT No. 2. 

[See page 9, line 28.] 



I here give the names and places of residence of the inhabi- 
tants of our Cold Spring School District, Number Two (after- 
wards Number Three, and now Number Sixteen), as I can re- 
call them from the time of my earliest remembrance, — say 
from about 1810-1811. I commence my list at what was so 
long known as "Walden hill" (on Main street, a short distance 
south of North street), and proceed northward along Main 
street. 

On this hill, east of Main street, the old Goodrich Mansion 
is still standing; and west of Main street, on land in early days 



35 

owned by the late Judge Ebenezer Walden, are, among others, 
the residences for years owned and occupied by the late Com. 
Stephen Champlin, and the late Rev. G. W. Heacock, D. D. 
At the time of which I now write, there was on this hill, east 
of Main street, only a small log house, occupied by a colored 
woman named Chloe. There was no house on the west side. 

At the present North street, the " outer" village lots termi- 
nated and " farm " lots commenced. The first lot on the east 
side of Main street, above North, was farm-lot No. 30, and 
the lots from this to No. 52 were on the east side of the 
street. This lot, No. 30, contained a double lo^ house, oc- 
cupied by Nathan W. Seaver. The opposite lot, on the west 
side of the street, was No. 53, on which was a small log house 
occupied by a Mr. Raymond. This house was subsequently 
the dwelling of Major Noble, and then of Sacket Dodge. The 
lots numbering from this upward were on the west side of Main 
street. On lot 54 was a log house occupied by another Mr. 
Raymond, a brother of the one just mentioned. This lot was 
afterwards owned and occupied by Alvan L. Dodge, for many 
years. Lots 31, 32, 55, 56, had no houses upon them, except 
that in rSii Major Ward Cotton built a log house on lot 55, 
and occupied it. On lot ^^ was a small log house, occupied 
by Major Nathan Toles. On lot 34 was a small log house 
occupied by George Burger. On lot 57 was a small log house 
occupied by Michael Hunt. This lot was afterwards the site 
of Hodge's Brick Tavern. On lot 35 was a double log house 
occupied by Thomas Forth. This was afterwards bought by 
William Hodge, Sen. On lot 58 was a small log house occu- 
pied by Christjohn Staley, standing back on the side hill, near 
a spring. This house was on the old traveled road, running 
about where Delaware street now is. On lot 59 was a double 
log house, the logs being hewed on two sides. This was occu- 
pied by William DeShay, and subsequently by Samuel McCon- 
nell. It is now the location of Spring Abbey. On this same 
lot was a small log house occupied by David Reese. On lots 



3^ 

36 and 37, the " Cold Spring property," was a small log house 
occupied by Mr. Kettle. On lot 38 was a small log house 
standing back a few rods eastward of the Cold spring; I do 
not remember who occupied this. On Main street was a log 
house occupied by Elijah Leech. On lot 60 was a small 
framed house occupied by Lyman Persons. On lot 61, near 
the Jubilee spring which was on lot 62, was a log house occu- 
pied by John Mains and afterwards by George Wormwood. On 
lot 62 was a small framed house, occupied by Shadrach Rem- 
ington, — father of the Reverends David and James Remington, 
and grandfather of Cyrus K. Remington of Buffalo. An old log 
house stood on the back part of this lot. On lot 63 was a 
small log house occupied by Mr. Wintermute. On lot 64 was 
a small log house standing down the creek at the stone quarry, 
which was occupied by Ebenezer Averill. He was quite an 
aged man. His son Zerah was the manager of the quarrying 
business, and was the Deputy Collector. On lot 39 was a 
small log house about where Puffer street now comes into 
Main. I do not remember who was the occupant of this. 
I recollect going to school in that house. Lot No 40 was not 
occupied by any house. On lot 41 was a log house occupied 
by Capt. Joseph We^s. On lot 42 there was no house. On 
lot 43, the " Brisbane lot," was a double log house occupied 
by Zebulon Ketchum. On lot 65 was a log house, near the 
saw-mill (this having been occupied a few months in 1805 by 
William Hodge), and a log house upon the hill, occupied by a 
Mr. Perry, and subsequently by Erastus Granger. 

Next to the creek, on the road, was a double log house oc- 
cupied by Asa Chapman. This house was near the bridge 
on the west side, a double house, and stood forward, half in 
the road. 

Lot 66 was not occupied by any house, south of the 
"Chapin" lot, which was not in our school-district. 



37 
G.— MY GRANDFATHER'S WOLF-TRAP. 

[See page lo, line 9.] 



Before giving some papers relating to the war, it will be in 
place here to insert one having reference to some of those oc- 
cupations and experiences of the pioneers which continued 
even in the war-time, as a necessary part of their ordinary life. 

My mother's father, Daniel Abbott, came to Buffalo Village, 
from Exeter, Otsego County, N. Y., in the spring of 1810, and 
resided here about two years. In June, 1812, the month in 
which the " Last War " began, he took up a farm in the town 
of Hamburg in this county, on the lake shore, which was for 
many years afterwards known as ''Abbott's," and there took 
up his residence. 

For many years after the Holland Land Purchase began to be 
settled, the forests in this region continued so to abound with 
game, as to offer great inducements to those who for sport or 
profit were inclined to kill or capture wild animals. These 
were the beaver, otter, mink, red and cross-gray fox, bear, 
wolf, deer, and some of minor importance. Some were taken 
for their skins alone, others for their flesh; — the bear and 
deer for both. 

But wolves were especially quite plentiful, and were greatly 
to be dreaded on account of their many depredations on the 
sheep-folds (as in the case of Mr. Abbott's ewes — below re- 
ferred to), and the destruction caused by them among pigs and 
calves. Even the settlers themselves were not secure from 
their attacks. Thus, Mr. Johnson Clough of the town of 
Hamburg in this county, was once chased by wolves, and com- 
pelled to take to the lake by wading into it, to save his life. 
Sheep were yarded and penned every night for safety, and 
even then would often be attacked and killed. The depreda- 
tions were of such frequent occurrence, and were so wide- 
spread in the sparse settlements, that very soon the towns, the 
counties and the state respectively offered bounties for the 
scalps of wolves captured within their boundaries. 



38 

The farm which Mr. Abbott had made his home, was then in 
its primitive state, covered with a heavy forest, without a house 
or any cleared land. He was a carpenter by trade, but divided 
his time, as occasion required, between farming, hunting, 
catching pigeons in a large twine net made by himself, trap- 
ping wolves and foxes, and sometimes hunting the latter with 
hounds, and, in the way of his trade, also putting up house 
and barn frames. In those times the settlers were poor, and 
they could pay but a small amount, if anything, as purchase- 
money, when they first took possession of their farms, although 
the cost-price was but a few dollars per acre. Money was 
of course very scarce; barter and exchange being the princi- 
pal mode of supplying family necessaries. A man having a 
hundred dollars in money was considered as being in ex- 
tremely good circumstances, and so the price paid by the 
furriers for fox-pelts, and the bounties offered for wolf-scalps, 
were quite desirable, and eagerly sought after. Mr. Abbott, 
of course, had this prevailing desire, and being very fond of 
hunting and trapping, he had in this an additional incentive to 
pursue these occupations. So, shortly after his arrival in 
Hamburg, he procured a large steel wolf-trap. In all proba- 
bility, however, the direct and immediate reason for this pur- 
chase was, the loss of ten fine ewes out of a flock of twelve. 
He had bought this flock from a farmer living a few miles 
distant, and after driving them home, had shut them up for 
the night in a strong pen adjoining the side of his log house. 
Upon visiting the pen the following morning he was dismayed 
to discover that a wolf had paid him a visit during the night, 
and that of his twelve ewes only two had been left alive. And 
yet so silently had his wolfship conducted the affair, that no 
noise had disturbed the inmates of the house. 

So Mr. Abbott purchased a trap from one Jonathan Ames, 
of the town of Evans, in this county, of whom I will presently 
say something more. This trap was a very formidable, ugly- 
looking object. It had long spike-teeth inserted in each jaw, 



39 

which interlocked with each other when it was sprung, and 
had a closing-spring so stiff and strong, that the power of a 
hand-spike was required to set it. 

Mr. Abbott kept this trap set most of the time, for foxes, 
when their fur was prime and good, and for wolves when there 
was any prospect of catching them. The people of to-day can 
hardly imagine the delight experienced by a family just set- 
tling on a new farm in the wilderness, at the capture of a wolf. 
The main object with them was, of course, first, to produce 
from the farm enough for family subsistence, and second, to 
get the farm paid for; and so, the bounty being thirty dollars 
for the scalp of each wolf killed in the state, sucTi an event 
was a matter of no small benefit to the fortunate slayer of even 
one of the depredators. Even the capture of a fox was hailed 
with great joy, for every such creature taken had its direct 
value. Mr. Abbott in the course of years succeeded in cap- 
turing many foxes, both of the cross-gray and the red varieties; 
and for the pelts of the former sort he received from two to 
two and a half dollars apiece, for those of the latter one dollar, 
from the hatters and furriers in the village. How great must 
have been the anxiety of the trapper for success, especially in 
catching the wolves, the great enemies of his flocks, when, 
knowing that they were in the vicinity of his domain, his fear 
of them was intensified by actual raids repeatedly made upon 
his own and his neighbors' premises. Let us follow, as we 
may, his modus operandi, in proceeding against these enemies. 
I will picture a real experience, — that of Mr. Abbott. 

He took the carcass of one of the victims of their onsets for 
a bait, which, having been "snaked," that is dragged, out into 
the woods to a proper distance, was staked down and made 
fast by the side of a log. The trap was then set, placed near 
the carcass, and slightly covered with dry leaves. Then it was 
left to be " raided " upon by the " varmints." 

Early the next morning, the trapper went out to examine 
the trap. Nothing had touched the bait, and the trap was all 



40 

right. The morning following, he went again to the trap (it 
was, say, a quarter of a mile distant from the house) the snow 
being then quite deep; and when he came to the place where 
the trap was, he found it still set, having evidently met with 
no change or disturbance. These journeys he repeated for 
several days in succession, until, one morning when he arrived 
near the trap, he found it sprung, — but, to his great disappoint- 
ment and chagrin, the thing had been done by the ever active, 
intermeddling blue jay, which had been attracted to the 
carcass, and, hopping about, had been caught in the big trap. 
He had however paid dearly for his folly, since the wolves had 
been there, too, and had eaten him off from the iron jaws that 
held him and finished their meal by a dessert from the carcass 
of the sheep. But the trapper pocketed his disappointment, 
re-set the trap, and with reviving hope, anticipated better 
success in the future. The next morning, as usual, he visited 
the trap. Not yet had it been disturbed; wolves, like Indians, 
however, require but one hearty meal within a day or two, so 
there was still hope. He went again, next morning, stepping 
in the same path or track in which he had already walked so 
many times on the same errand; and nearing the log, yet while 
still at a short distance, he discovered, by some marks in the 
snow, that wolves had been there, and going a few steps 
nearer, he saw that — the trap was gone! His anxiety was at 
its height; something had been caught, and with quick steps 
he hastily followed the trail of the trap, by its marks with 
those of the attached chain, clearly visible in the snow. And 
it was plain to see how the animal caught had bounded 
and leaped this way, that way, snapping and biting the trap 
which had got a sure hold of one of its legs. And so, after 
scanning the ground ahead, and following the tracks some 
forty rods, the trapper discovered at a short distance from 
him, a wolf, lying crouched down in the snow, as if ashamed 
to be seen. It is a fact, that a wolf when cauglit in a trap, 
becomes completely subdued and docile; so much so that after 



41 

a cord is tied around its neck, it can be released from 
the trap and led away without resistance or difficulty. But 
the trapper in this case leveled the old musket which he had 
constantly carried with him, and fired at the wolf, which made 
one powerful spring, to the length of the chain, and fell in 
death-struggles. The chain, it was found, had become fastened 
in a bush, and had probably held the wolf there for some 
hours. 

Then, the trapper was rewarded for all his pains. Thirty 
dollars were his, as bounty-money, part from the town, part 
from the county, and part from the state. This paid him well 
for the time he had spent in those three or four weeks, per- 
severingly keeping up his operations against the wolves. 

Mr. Abbott set the trap again, put it in position, and, as 
before, day after day, for a while he had nothing but disap- 
pointment. No wolves came to disturb bait or trap. Mean- 
time, however, two foxes were secured, which were some 
recompense for his trouble; and one other animal was also 
taken which is a great nuisance to all hunters and trappers as 
well as to a good many other people here and there, — namely, 
a pole-cat, or skunk. Mr. Abbott's patience and labor did 
not, however, ultimately fail of their reward; for, after eight 
days' time the wolves came again, and within the succeeding 
two weeks he secured the scalps of two more of the wily chaps. 
In fact, a fourth wolf was caught, but the trapper received no 
bounty for this, as the law required him to produce the scalp, 
while he was able to present only the foot, and a small part of 
the leg of the wolf, — for the trap had broken the bones of his 
leg, and his wolfship had gnawed off the sinetos diwd escaped. 
There were, unfortunately, thirty dollars lost, — at least, not 
gained, which was practically the same. Yet Mr. Abbott was 
enabled by means of those bounties, and the money procured 
for the pelts of the foxes caught in this trap, to make a large 
payment on his farm. 



42 

This wolf-trap was quite an important heir-loom in the 
Abbott family. It was kept in use most of the time, for some 
twenty or twenty-five years, after its purchase. Then it was 
suddenly missed. But some years later, after the death of my 
grandfather, a son of his, in a journey as a buyer of furs in 
Ohio, by a mere chance came across at Sandusky City this 
identical old wolf-trap, and he of course recovered it on prov- 
ing ownership. It has since passed from that son's possession 
into a grandson's, whose residence is in the neighborhood 
where it had been so efficient in catching and holding valuable 
game in early days. 

Surely this instrument having been a pioneer and so long a 
resident of our formerly Niagara, now Erie County, and so 
usefully efficient towards paying for a good farm and clearing 
the country of pests, is entitled to some notice in making up 
the local history of this region. And its origin and something 
concerning its maker deserve to be recorded. 

Mr. Jonathan Ames, the maker, was quite a character, and 
himself one of the pioneers of Western New York. He was a 
blacksmith, and his fame as a steel-trap maker was quite ex- 
tensive. All the traps he could make found ready sale among 
the dealers in furs in Buffalo Village and elsewhere, and 
they were in fact known to the trappers from Genesee to 
Mackinac. 

The old fur and hat store on the southeast corner of Main 
and Swan streets, carried on by Stocking &: Bull, Stocking & 
Dart, and subsequently (removed to the other side of the 
street) by William Ketchum & Co., used to have " Ames' Steel- 
Traps " for sale; and I think Stillman & Co. also sold them, 
and supplied the country far and near with these useful 
articles. 

Mr. Ames would make up a back-load of traps of differ- 
ent sizes, suitable for catching beavers, otters, foxes, minks, 
and muskrats or water-rats (house-rats were not known when 
first he made his steel-traps, here in Western New York), 



43 

string them together, and loading them across his shoul- 
ders start off on foot for Buffalo. There he disposed of 
them to customers, laid in a supply of iron and steel, and a 
good quantity of that to him indispensable article, namely, 
tea; and, when ready, shouldered his bundle and started for 
his home. This was two or three miles west of Eighteen- 
mile creek, near Sturgeon Point, and something over twenty 
miles from Buffalo Village. The road by which he traveled, 
and all who at that time went up the lake shore, is described 
in another of these papers. 

In one of these return journeys he had laid in a larger stock 
than usual, and the road was extremely bad. He had managed 
to carry his load, by resting occasionally, until, within a few 
miles of his home, having become very tired, he sat down to 
rest. As he rose to go on, he discovered some travelers com- 
ing with a team. It occurred to him that he might play a 
practical joke with them and get relieved from carrying his 
heavy load. He therefore feigned to avoid being seen by the 
party with the team. They discovered him, of course, and 
noticing his peculiar actions, thought best to take him and his 
burden of iron and steel into custody, suspecting him to be a 
thief. They therefore arrested him, relieving him of his 
property by putting it safely into the wagon, and required him 
as a prisoner to take a seat with them there. This he did, 
having, as if overpowered by numbers, submitted to the arrest. 
On arrival at his home, the joke came out. Whether the case 
was argued by his wife and family, and he acquitted, or 
whether the capturing party took Mr. Ames over to the tavern 
near by, and there discussed the case over a bottle of whiskey, 
as was customary in those times, the records fail to show, and 
tradition, so far as I have been able to learn, is silent about it. 
But at any rate, Mr. Ames was not required to give bail for 
an appearance at court, and he was the gainer by an easy trip 
for the latter part of that one of his toilsome journeys. 



44 



H.— THE BOYS' PET CANNON. 

[See page lo, line 35.] 



In connection with the mention of this squad of cavalry and 
this tvventy-four-pounder salute gun, the following incident 
will be at least an amusing matter of history: 

There was also "stationed" in our neighborhood at this 
time a small band of individuals forming a self-constituted 
guard, who, independent of any military control, but enjoying 
the excitement of the times, and willing to " lend a hand " in 
the controversy, were ever ready when occasion demanded to 
"take the field " and fight "on their own hook." This com- 
pany of youngsters had made their rendezvous at the log house 
of Alvan L. Dodge, fronting on Main street, on farm-lot 54 (at the 
corner of our Main and Summer streets). In their possession 
was a small cannon or " swivel," a two- or three-pounder, 
which had been captured from one of the British gun-boats, 
and as happens very often in war time with property, had 
fallen into the hands of private individuals. 

Wishing to be in unison with and desirous of imitating the 
regular military guard at the " Tavern," they fired this swivel 
at the same time in the morning when the artillery-men dis- 
charged the big cannon. In order to do this with greater reg- 
ularity and precision, they watched the motion or swinging of 
the lighted match in the hands of the artillery-men, at the 
moment of firing their salute. 

Soon after the war this swivel came into the possession of 
Mr, William Hodge, Sen., by purchase, at a public sale of the 
effects of Nathan Toles, a neighbor residing on lot No. ^;^ 
(commonly called the Loomis lot) and who died in 1815, the 
year in which the war ended. Mr. Hodge had it mounted on 
a regular cannon-carriage which was made by an Englishman, 
a wheelwright by trade. He was a deserter from the British 
army, having with a friend, James Bromley, left the British 



45 

camp near Fort Erie, one night, " borrowed " a canoe without 
leave, and with some pieces of board paddled across Niagara 
river. 

In after years, as may well be imagined, the possession of 
this cannon for the purpose of celebrating the Anniversary of 
our National Independence was a great desideratum among 
the boys of the village. For, of course, having been used to 
the noise and tumult of war, nothing less than a real cannon 
could sufficiently gratify and express- their patriotism. Not 
only, however, on Independence day was this weapon in de- 
mand, but also at all celebrations and public meetings of any 
description, at Major Miller's, Atkins' or William Hodge's, at 
Williamsville, or at Ransom's grove (Clarence). No such oc- 
casion could be complete without that cannon. 

But alas! one Fourth-of-July morning about the year 1820, 
on awaking early and rushing out to the barn to get owx pet 
cannon, and have the first grand roaring " bang " for the day, 
we discovered, to our intense sorrow and chagrin, that it had 
been stolen by the boys from the village. They had come out 
during the night, and tearing some boards from the back of 
the barn where it was stored, had abstracted our plaything. 
It did not quiet our feelings much to hear it, as we did, bang- 
ing away down in the village. We started in haste to recover 
it, but there was no street-car or even sidewalk in those 
days, — the middle of the road was the path for pedestrians, — 
but, making good time for the circumstances, we put in an ap- 
pearance before long at the old Eagle tavern, opposite the 
present Clinton street. There stood our cannon, in the middle 
of the road, a party of men and boys being in the immediate 
vicinity, but none laying any claim to our property. We ac- 
cordingly took possession at once and ran it out to Mr. 
Hodge's, where we had grand sport with it during the rest of 
the day. 

If there are any of those village boys yet living in Buffalo 
or elsewhere (they must be now from seventy to eighty or 



46 

more years of age), and if they read these lines, I should like 
to have them "report" themselves to me, and also favor the 
public with any facts they may remember concerning this 
little escapade. They surely cannot have forgotten the conse- 
quences of the affair, nor how they were all politely invited to 
" walk up to the captain's office (Squire Clary's) and settle," 
nor how cheerfully they complied with this earnest request. 
What they paid was certainly a reasonable sum for disappoint- 
ing *' us bpys " on that memorable day and getting off with no 
further " questions asked." 

I have stated that the pet cannon was " stolen " — but in 
those days we did not usually apply the words "stolen" or 
" steal " to cases of taking without leave — things so taken were 
said to be '^hooked." This term is supposed to have originated 
in (it was at any rate well warranted by) the practice of the sol- 
diers in those days, who, carrying, by custom, walking-sticks 
with hooked handles, would reach across the counter of a store 
they might be in, when the proprietor's back was toward them, 
and "hook" articles from the shelves for their own use. This 
was in fact a quite general custom with them. I presume there 
is at least one gentleman now living here who will remember 
being placed with his brother on the store counter to watch 
the goods while their father attended to the customers. 

I am sorry that I must also chronicle the destruction of this 
pet cannon whose story I have been telling. It was in use in 
celebrating the "Glorious Fourth," at Ransom's Grove (Clar- 
ence) now quite a number of years ago, and burst in firing; 
and thus ingloriously — or was it gloriously ? — came to its end the 
plaything that had for so long a time been a source of delight- 
ful enjoyment to the boys of Buffalo and vicinity. 



47 
I.— THE BATTLE OF BLACK ROCK. 

[See page ii, line 13.] 



In this paper my object is, chiefly, to point out and correct 
some errors that have gone into history concerning this affair, 
and to relate a few incidents connected with it. 

In the summer campaign of 1813, our army was withdrawn 
from Canada by our commander. Gen. McClure. He then, 
after blowing up Fort George, opposite Fort Niagara, also 
very unwisely and needlessly burned Newark, formerly called 
Butlersbury, and now Niagara Village. This proceeding 
greatly enraged the Canadians, and they boldly declared that 
they would be revenged by the burning of some of our vil- 
lages, and especially that Buffalo should be destroyed by fire. 
All the residents of Buffalo felt sure that they would carry out 
this threatened retaliation, if possible. 

In consequence of this, and the presence of English troops 
across the river, militia-men were raised in different parts of 
the country, and sent on to Buffalo for our protection. For a 
number of weeks, and up to the time when the British crossed 
the river, the militia continued to pour into the village, until 
it was said that we had between three and four thousand men 
here under arms. The British force that afterwards crossed, 
proved to have amounted to twelve hundred regulars and two 
or three hundred Indians. 

It was supposed that our army had strength sufficient to 
drive back and " whip " any force that would be sent against 
us. I remember well how much our commander. General 
Hall, was censured for rousing our men from their slumbers, 
and marching them down Niagara street on one of the darkest 
of dark nights to meet the British regulars in open fight; and 
for allowing our troops to be outflanked by the Indians, whose 
savage yells coming on all sides from an unseen foe, were 
enough to frighten even bolder hearts than were possessed by 
these new recruits, only a few days away from their homes 



48 

and farms. It was the universal judgment that our men 
should have been kept where they were in safety, and simply 
prepared to meet the enemy when they should arrive near the 
village, which would have been after daylight. 

All events of the war were fully related and discussed in 
the bar-room of my father's tavern, and I, although but a 
boy, being required to be there a large part of the time to wait 
on the guests, heard and remembered much that was said. 
Boys, too, notice and remember many things that older people 
sometimes forget, or do not think of sufficient importance to be 
put on record as matters of history, — yet it is the little things, 
grouped together, that make up the whole. 

Upon examination of the different historical accounts of the 
occurrences in our immediate vicinity on the morning of the 
day that Buffalo was burned, I fail to find any full and cor- 
rectly detailed description ; but I do find some statements 
published in the journals of the day, evidently written by per- 
sons who knew but little of the actual facts, or certainly they 
would not have been so incorrect in their accounts. 

The events of that memorable morning, December 30, 181 3, 
as I remember them, and heard them many times related dur- 
ing weeks and months afterward, were as follows: 

The British were discovered between one and two o'clock 
that morning, as related in my leading paper, by a patrol of the 
company of horsemen then stationed at my father's public 
house. The enemy had landed a short distance below Squaw 
Island, had then marched up and crossed Scajaquada (Con- 
jockety's) creek on the old bridge, which was not far from its 
mouth, and continuing their march had easily captured our 
lower battery. This was nearly opposite the head of Squaw 
Island. They had thus far met with little or no opposition. 
But at or near this point they were met by our militia. It was 
then nearly daylight. At about this time another force of the 
enemy had crossed, and landed nearly opposite to the place 
where the first body stood formed in line, and at this point the 
battle was fought. 



49 

Many of our men on the night-march down to Black Rock 
nad left the 7-a/iksj and when our force met the enemy, more 
than half oi our militia had deserted and fled through the 
woods. Those who remained fought well for a time, but very 
soon broke ranks and fled; and there ensued a general stam- 
pede into and through the forest, eastward. Meanwhile the 
British continued their march up the Black Rock road (Nia- 
gara street), meeting with no opposition excepting from the 
brave Col. (Dr.) Cyrenius Chapin and a few followers who 
brought to bear on them a small field-piece. 

It was commonly reported after the battle that the British 
officers had said that they were on the point of surrendering 
to our force, and that if our men had stood their ground and 
given them one more volley, they would have surrendered. 
This erroneous statement, published in many of the eastern 
newspapers, was probably obtained from those who first left 
the scene of action (if they were in it at all); and the editors of 
course published the first accounts that they could get, being 
undoubtedly those of the persons who first ran away. 

Two of my uncles, Lorin and Alfred Hodge, with a number 
of our neighbors and townsmen, were in that battle. After it 
these two returned to their homes in the vicinity of Cold 
Spring, and with my father were the last to leave the neighbor- 
hood, and then not till the flames were doing their destroying 
work down in the village. 

\nX\i^ Manlius Times, published January 4, 1814, there is 
an account of this battle which is copied into the Appendix to 
Ketchum's history of Buffalo, and which contains several 
errors. It states that " the skirmish which took place with 
our militia was where the enemy landed, and lasted several 
hours," while in truth our force stationed there, being small, 
retired almost immediately. Again it says: "Toward daylight 
a body of regulars, from eight hundred to one thousand, with 
cannon, etc., landed at the mouth of Buffalo creek directly 
above the village." This is entirely false. Then it states that 



5° 

"our men finding themselves attacked on both flanks, imme- 
diately retreated through the woods on to the road near Major 
Miller's" (at Cold Spring). So far as the retreating o^t fleeing 
is concerned, this is true; but then it is further asserted that 
"here Gen. Hall rallied them, and conducted them towards 
Buffalo, where they met the enemy, and considerable hard 
fighting took place." This is not true. There was no march- 
ing back, no rallying and no fighting at Buffalo. This must 
have been written by one who drew largely on his imagination 
for his facts. 

From a letter given in Ketchum's history, dated January 30, 
1814, to General Porter at Albany, I quote as follows: "The 
enemy then " (that is, after the battle) " marched to Buffalo, 
a detachment taking the road to Granger's Mills" (on Con- 
jockety's creek). This was not so. None of the enemy 
went out there that day with the exception of some scouting 
Indians. A few Indians did come up the "Guide Board 
road" (North street) and shot at our people passing on the old 
main road near the present Dela\yare street, wounding one 
man in the knee; but they did not come up to the main road. 

What little Mr. Turner says in his " History of the Holland 
Purchase " in relation to the battle of that day is very correct 
except this statement: "Looking up Main street Judge Wal- 
den saw a small force approaching, and immediately started 
to meet it. It proved to be a detachment of forty regular 
soldiers, under the command of Lieut. Riddle, marching in to 
save the village," etc. I think this statement must be without 
any good foundation, as I never heard or saw any other ac- 
count of such an event. If it had been a fact, I think that 
some of us would have known of it, and that it would have 
been spoken of at that time or immediately afterwards. We (of 
my father's family), fleeing from home late that morning, were 
on the road all the way to Williamsville and three miles 
beyond, and nothing was seen or heard of any soldiers going 
towards Buffalo. The fact is, all had their faces turned the 



51 

other way, and seemed to be moving on in a great hurry. 
Indeed, when our men had broken ranks and commenced to 
run, there was no such thing as stopping them. After getting 
through the woods, our " gallant " soldiery covered the fields 
between the Guide-board road and Cold Spring. One man, 
wounded in the shoulder by a musket-ball, came across the 
fields to the house of the widow Cotton (a near neighbor). 
While George W. Cotton, her son, was getting off the man's 
coat to examine and dress the wound, the cry was so strong 
that the British and Indians were coming, that the wounded 
man could not wait, but ran across the road and into the 
woods, following scores of others who were on a full run. 
And yet Mrs. Cotton and her family, and most of the other 
families there and in the village, had not as yet left their 
homes. In truth, our militia army and most of the officers 
went far ahead of the inhabitants in fleeing before the enemy 
that morning; some of the officers manifesting as much cow- 
ardice as the men. There was a feeble effort made to rally the 
men at the Cold Spring; but they could no more be stopped 
than a flock of sheep when it has once started to go by you. 
At Williamsville bridge there was better success, some being 
stopped and continuing on guard at that place. 

Another account says: "The enemy remained on this side 
until Saturday." This, too, is a mistake. They all returned 
across the river the same day on which they came over, — 
Thursday, December 30. It became known afterwards that 
they said they dared not remain over night, fearing that their 
retreat would be cut off. These things were talked of at that 
time, and no doubt were true. The enemy were over here 
Saturday, January i, 1814, as a separate expedition, of which 
and its incidents I write in another article. 

I add a few incidents of the battle. Mr. Job Hoisington is 
referred to in the memoir of my father (see page 10) and 
from two accounts of his death during the battle of Black 
Rock, which I have published, one in the Buffalo Historical 



52 

Society's publications,* vol. i., page 53, the other in the Buffalo 
Commercial Advertiser, Dec. 30, 187 1, I here give a single and 
full account of the event. It will be suitable to mention con- 
cerning him that his son, the Rev. Henry Hoisington, was for 
many years a devoted missionary in the Island of Ceylon. 

Mr. Hoisington, " gallant Job Hoisington " he has well been 
called, was an intelligent, resolute, patriotic man; and when 
the news of the approach of the British towards Buffalo came, 
he took his musket and left his family early in the morning, to 
meet the enemy. He went into the ranks with Capt. Hull's 
Buffalonians, and they stood their ground well; but when the 
three thousand and odd of new levies broke and fled precip- 
itately, only a few hundred were left to face as many Indians, 
and over a thousand disciplined British regulars. For a brief 
period they contested the field, but seeing that they were 
flanked, they retreated, along the Guide-board road, now 
North street, eastward. But here Hoisington lingered, with- 
drew a little, stopped, and said, " I will have one more shot at 
them," and started to go back. His companions urged him to 
go on with them, but could not prevail on him to do so. This 
was the last that was known of him by his friends till, in the 
following spring, some eight weeks later, his remains were 
found beside a log in the woods (near the spot on which the 
residence of the late Frederick Gridley, on North street, 
stands, — a block or two west of the Normal School building) — 
and not far from the place where he had left his companions. 
A bullet had perforated, and a tomahawk had cleft, his skull; 
while his scalp had been torn from his bleeding head, as a 
trophy of savage conquest and a token of British inhumanity. 
His faithful musket lay empty by his side, and no doubt his 
death was avenged ere it occurred. He was buried in the old 
Cold Spring cemetery, 'and in 1850, his remains were re- 
interred with those of nearly a hundred others buried there, in 
" Forest Lawn." 

Mr. Hoisington's family (a wife and six children), left their 

* Publications of The Buffalo Historical Society. Bigelow Bro's, Publishers, Buffalo. 



S3 

home on foot that cold morning, having no one to help them, 
and went along the Batavia road towards Williamsville. Two 
or three of the smaller children were picked up by some of 
our horsemen who were escaping, and carried away some 
fifteen or twenty miles, into the town of Clarence, and one of 
them many miles further, into Genesee County, and left with 
strangers. It was several days before the mother learned 
where her children were. In the battle that morning were two 
others of our neighbors, who went to meet the enemy, an'd 
fought "on their own hook." They were my uncle, Alfred 
Hodge, and a Mr. Estee. After fighting some time, they had 
to retreat for their lives. They were being outflanked by the 
British Indians, as, a little after daylight, they were running 
along up the old Guide-board road. Mr. Estee rid himself of 
his overcoat and outran Mr. Hodge, who could not get rid of 
his so easily, having a rifleman's cartridge-box belted tightly 
around him. He saw that two Indians were gaining on him, 
and would surely overtake him soon. He had reached the 
back field of Sacket Dodge's lot, — about where Delaware 
street now crosses North, — the road being through the woods 
and bushes, and just there there was a crook in the track of 
the road which put him out of sight of the Indians for a 
moment, and in that moment he jumped the fence, and hid 
behind a log close by, quite out of breath, but cocked his 
gun and laid it across the log. Some bushes partially screened 
him from sight, as he looked over the log. His object was to 
have the first fire, if discovered. The Indians soon came up, 
halted and looked around and across the field, but did not dis- 
cover him. While standing there in the road they fired several 
shots at persons going along on the main road, one taking 
effect in a man's knee. At one moment they both stood in 
range with Mr. Hodge, and he thought that he could bring 
them down at one shot, but they changed position too quickly 
for this. They soon returned towards Black Rock, and he 
left his hiding-place and made his way across the fields to the 



54 

house of his father, Benjamin Hodge, on farm lot No. 54, on 
the northwest corner of our Main and Utica streets. 

On this morning of the battle the few families in our neigh- 
borhood, before starting off (as numbers did) on foot, to flee, 
disposed of some of their household goods in a manner not 
very secure. Behind stumps and logs in the adjoining fields 
were hastily put baskets or pails of crockery, articles of furni- 
ture, cooking utensils, etc. All live-stock was left to shift for 
itself, and this in the dead of winter. Mr. Benjamin Hodge, 
Sen., thinking it more merciful to knock his old sow in the 
head than to leave her to starve in the cold, took his axe and 
aimed a blow at the creature, which however she dodged, and 
so saved her life; — for she managed to exist without his care 
until Mr. Hodge returned, about a week later. 



J.— THE BURNING OF BUFFALO, 
AND INCIDENTS. 

[See page 12, line 18.] 



The sei-ond visit of the enemy here mentioned was made to 
complete the work left unfinished two days before, viz., the 
destruction of Buffalo Village by fire. After the Battle of 
Black Rock, and the flight of our troops, Dec. 30, 1813, the 
enemy had pressed on, and nearly destroyed the place, yet ten 
or a dozen houses were still left standing. The object of this 
raid of Jan. i, 1814, was to burn these and destroy any public 
property they could find. 

The story of the burning has been so often and so well told, 
that I do not here enter upon it at length, but only seek to 
make prominent the fact of two separate assaults and burn- 
ings, and give a few incidents of this second one. 



55 

Emboldened by the retirement of the enemy after the first 
attack, numbers of people had come into the village, some led 
by curiosity, others seeking shelter. But this proved to be an 
unfortunate thing for those who had thus come together, for 
suddenly an alarm was raised, and the fierce invaders broke in 
upon their fancied security. All the remaining buildings, ex- 
cept Mrs. St. John's dwelling, the stone jail walls, a barn- 
frame, and a blacksmith's shop, were destroyed, and thirty or 
forty prisoners taken, in and outside of the village. 

Among these latter was Daniel Lewis, our next door neigh- 
bor. He had ventured back on Saturday to his barnyard, to 
feed his cattle which he had left in such a hurry, and was 
seized by the enemy. They took him with the rest over 
the river, but kept him only a day or two; and after having 
some sport over him they sent him back'. Mr. Ralph Pome- 
roy, also, keeper of a public-house on Main street, east side, 
above Seneca, was carried to Canada, but returned here in a 
day or so. My uncle, Benjamin Hodge, Jr., was of the num- 
ber who went on that day to see the ruins. He, too, was 
taken prisoner, and kept as such a year and a half. He was 
taken first to Montreal and then to Quebec. While thus a 
prisoner his feet were frozen, and he was crippled in conse- 
quence for several years. 

Another of the prisoners taken at this time, in the village, 
was Mr. David Eddy, a Quaker from the town of Hamburg. 
He had come down from home to see the burnt village, not 
expecting to meet the enemy, and was seized. The prisoners 
were collected together on the Black Rock road (now Niagara 
street), at a short distance from Main, and were about being 
marched down to that village, when they were halted and 
asked by the commanding officer if any of them knew of any 
public property near by, that could be destroyed. Mr. Eddy 
answered, and said that he did. They enquired, "Where," and 
he directed them to William Hodge's " brick house on the hill," 
near Cold Spring. 



56 

Eight horsemen were then detailed to go and destroy the 
property, and Eddy was ordered to mount behind one of them 
and show them the way. Their orders were that if they met 
any opposition they should shoot Eddy, and return. He con- 
ducted them to the house, and as they came in sight of it, they 
were discovered by Mr. Benjamin Hodge, Sen., and Mr. Keep, 
who were in the house at the time, and who ran out, and down 
the hill, before the men came up. The leader gave chase 
after them, and called on them to stop; Mr. Hodge did so, and 
the horseman passed by him and followed Mr. Keep, who con- 
tinued running for about eighty rods. When the officer neared 
him he raised his carbine, or short musket, and shot him, and 
he fell opposite to what is now the south entrance gate of 
Spring Abbey. The officer then wheeled about and returned 
to the house with Mr. Hodge. He then ordered him to show 
the way to the cellar, and to take with him an axe that stood 
in a corner. Seeing that the cellar was filled with merchandise 
he stepped back to the head of the stairs and commanded his 
men to fire the house. He then ordered Mr. Hodge to knock 
open several boxes of candles, kegs of nails, casks of liquor, 
etc., hoping to find specie. He was assured by Mr. Hodge 
that there was no specie or public property there; that it was 
all private property. The truth was the large cellar was full 
of goods belonging to the merchants of the village who had 
put them in store there for safety, in case of an attack on 
Buffalo. After knocking in the heads of several casks of 
liquor, they came to one of old Jamaica rum, and the officer 
emptied his canteen of whiskey and filled it from that cask. 
About this time his men called out from above that "the 
Yankees " were coming, and he stepped very quickly up the 
outer cellar stairs, telling Mr. Hodge to follow him. But he 
thought he would not be in too great a hurry, and lagged 
behind. Without repeating his order, or even looking back, 
the officer went out and mounted his horse, and with the rest 
of his men rode off back to the burnt village, with their pilot. 



57 

» 

David Eddy. He was taken over the river with the rest of 
the prisoners, and after a few days was sent back, among the 
others mentioned above. 

As to Mr. Eddy, he bore Mr. Hodge no ill-will. He was 
quite an active business man, buying and selling much of the 
produce of the country around Buffalo. Mr. Hodge had fre- 
quently bought of him, and he had often been at Mr. Hodge's 
house, and therefore knew about the contents of the cellar. 

After this transaction he came frequently to Mr. Hodge's 
tavern as a guest, and sometimes brought his wife with him. 
The reason that he gave for informing the enemy of the stored 
property was, that he hoped to receive favors. Mr. Hodge 
and Mr. Eddy were always on good terms after as well as 
before this event. But things were not so friendly and pleas- 
ant between Mrs. Hodge and Mr. Eddy. She had worked 
hard for some ten years or more, and a part of this time 
amidst the dangers, tumult and desolations of a war; and so 
having with her husband accumulated their property, she 
naturally felt that Mr. Eddy was the cause of its destruction, 
and was not loth to lay the charge to him in pretty plain lan- 
guage; so that he had not much peace of his life, when stop- 
ping at Mr. Hodge's house. It was not, in fact, until Mrs. 
Hodge and Mr. Eddy had had many confabs on the subject 
and there seemed to him no prospect that they would cease, 
that the matter was quieted by a compromise, as follows: Mrs. 
Hodge was to discontinue all controversy and to relinquish all 
claims either at law or in equity against Mr. Eddy, for the loss 
of the house and household goods, which exceeded eight 
thousand dollars in value, on his paying in cash down, to Mrs. 
Hodge, the full sum and amount of — twenty dollars! After 
Mrs. Hodge received this sum as the settlement of her claim 
against Mr. Eddy, she invested it, upon due consideration, in 
the purchase, from our silversmith, Abram Larzalere, of a set 
of large silver spoons for her table. 

The "Yankees" who were "coming," when Mr. Hodge's 



58 

cellar was under investigation by the British ofiflcer, were a 
company of our horsemen under the command of Col. Tot- 
man, and were stationed for the day at Atkins' tavern on 
"The Plains" (now the Old Homestead). 

When this company of horsemen were passing my father's 
house, they were somewhat scattered along the road. Col. 
Totman was some distance ahead of his company, and he rode 
on past the house and up to the side of a British horseman, 
who, as he came up, shot him down. He fell from his horse 
on the west side of the road, in the ditch just opposite where 
Riley street enters Main. It was thought that he mistook the 
British horseman for one of our own. His horse ran back to 
our barn, the British horseman after it. Our men coming up 
he turned and retreated with the rest of the company. The 
body of Col. Totman was carried on the back of a horse, out 
to Harris Hill Tavern, where I remember seeing it that even- 
ing, lying on the bar-room table. 

At this time, also, a half-breed British Indian had come 
on to the Main road just above Cold Spring, to my 
father's joiner-shop, where household goods and some cloth- 
ing were stored. He had made up a bundle of such 
things as he desired, and had brought them out and laid 
them over the fence. He had then gone to our dwelling- 
house, which had just been set on fire, taken a brand, and 
crossed the road to fire the barn, when the horsemen came up 
from the direction of Cold Spring and took him prisoner. 
He was put in charge of a Dr. Tourtelot who, with another 
man, took him to or near Batavia, where he was shot and 
killed. It was reported that he had attempted to escape. 

The same day, also, and a little before this occurrence, three 
British Indians entered the back door of Major Miller's tavern 
at Cold Spring. They found in the house a Mrs. Martin, an 
inmate of the Major's family. They were about to set fire to 
the house, when Mrs. Martin delayed them by furnishing them 
food, as they seemed to be somewhat hungry. She had been 



59 

informed that a company of horsemen would soon be there, 
and sought to keep the Indians till their arrival. They did 
come galloping up while the Indians were eating, who, dis- 
covering the troopers, left the house where they had entered 
it, but in a much greater hurry, and ran across the fields into 
the woods. This was Col. Totman's company, which has 
been already mentioned. 



K.— SOLDIERS' DEPREDATIONS, 1812-1814. 

[See page 13, line 30.] 



The reference to depredations by our soldiers in 1814 re- 
calls others committed still earlier, during the fall and 
winter of 1812-13. The Pennsylvania troops, mentioned 
page 10, line 11, as encamped on the hill in front of our log 
tavern, burnt all the fence-rails in that vicinity — and for these 
the Government never repaid the owners. And the other sol- 
diers then stationed in Buffalo and its neighborhood stole> 
carried off and killed cattle, sheep, hogs and poultry by the 
quantity. Once several fat sheep had been put into a horse- 
stable, among the horses, just at night, to be dressed the next 
morning; but when morning came they were gone. They had 
been taken a short distance down into the orchard, and 
dressed, or butchered and carried off to the camp. 

At last some of the soldiers were caught at this work. They 
were taken to their camp, and delivered up to their officers for 
punishment; but to this the officers were not disposed. This 
rather exasperated some of the inhabitants, who asked the 
commanding officer what they should do to the soldiers if they 
were caught at any more of these depredations. He said 
"Shoot them, shoot them down, the rascals." After this a 



6o 

number of the young men of the town kept watch at night. 
Finally Guy J. Atkins, William Holt, Daniel Cotton, Elijah 
Cotton and Velorus Hodge, were thus on watch one night at 
the bridge over Granger's (or Conjockety's) creek, all but one 
being in the Chapman log house near by. After a while the 
one on guard outside discovered eight soldiers crossing the 
bridge, and hailed them. They answered, *' What business 
have you to stop soldiers on the march?" and then a pistol was 
fired by one of them. The guard returned the fire. This 
started out those that were in the house; they sallied forth and 
all fired away at the soldiers, giving them an effectual " pep- 
pering " with shot. Five of the soldiers fell to the ground, 
three making their escape. Of the five four were wounded by 
the shot; the fifth fell, to save himself from being shot. These 
five were marched into camp the next morning and delivered 
over to the commanding officer, who approved of the course 
taken by the citizens. This put a check upon the stealing and 
plundering for quite a while. 



L.— BATTLE OF FORT ERIE, 1814. 

[See page 14, line 16.] 



The next summer after the village of Buffalo was burned, 
our army took possession of Fort Erie and held it for some 
time. I remember the cannonading for forty days and nights 
from the British batteries; and at length, September 17, 1814, 
they determined to drive our men from, and get possession of, 
the fort. They did get possession, so far as to drive our men 
from the main battery, and turn the guns upon them. As the 
Americans were retreating from the fort, under the fire of 
the cannon, the magazine, which was under the battery, ex- 



6i 

ploded with a tremendous noise, and great destruction of " life 
and limb " of the enemy. Several hundred who were on the 
battery were blown up. This caused a re-action; those of the 
enemy who survived, retreated, most of them were made pris- 
oners, and our soldiers regained possession of the fort. 

When the battle had ceased, on the blowing up of the maga- 
zine, the people on this side of the river were in great anxiety 
to hear the result. The loud noise made by the explosion of 
the magazine, they could not account for, and which party had 
gained the victory they could not tell. They were in a state 
of trying suspense until word was brought across the river, and 
they were exceedingly relieved when they learned that our men 
had gained the day. Had we been unsuccessful the enemy 
would have been over here the next day. 

I remember well, seeing a number of wagons which stopped 
at my father's house the next day loaded with wounded pris- 
oners. They were in great pain, and begged for whiskey or 
some other liquor to drown their suffering. They were awful 
objects to behold, — some with their eyesight gone, and others 
with their faces blackened and otherwise disfigured. They 
were taken to Williamsville, and afterwards those that recov- 
ered, to Greenbush, opposite Albany. The other prisoners, — 
those that were not maimed or wounded — were marched on 
foot. As they were halted in front of our place, and saw our 
burned brick house being repaired, they declared that they 
would burn it again before one year passed by; but this threat 
was never carried out. 



M.— ROADS, TRAVEL AND TRAFFIC. 

[See page 15, line ig.] 



The year 1825 forms a noticeable dividing-point between 
the earlier and later history of Buffalo, by reason of the open- 



62 

ing then of the Erie canal. This, and the previous formation 
of the harbor, by opening Buffalo creek, created that great 
water thoroughfare which really built the City of Buffalo; with 
which, however, the Railroad development has come into com- 
petition, by reestablishing the through land-route between the 
east and the west. 

But the earlier stage of this great progress by roads through 
the wilderness, by wagons for travel and traffic, and later, 
stage-coaches as means of passenger transit, must not be forgot- 
ten. In this paper I give a description of these roads, east 
and west of, and through, Buffalo. To this I add something 
concerning the stage-coach, the early predecessor of the rail- 
road of to-day, and a brief account of the opening of Buffalo 
harbor. 

First, then, I present some facts in reference to the roads 
by which traffic and travel were, in the infancy of Buffalo, 
carried on through it between the east and the west. 

From my recollection of some of the old road-marks and 
log houses along the way, I give the -following description, com- 
mencing on "The Plains," about five miles east of the port of 
" Buffalo Creek," at Atkins' tavern, now the " Old Homestead." 
Coming westward, thence, the road bore a little to the left of 
the present main road, keeping on the "limestone ridge" for 
about one mile. Then it crossed the present road on " Flint 
Hill," about sixty rods east of the present parkway, still fol- 
lowing, or nearly so, the rocky ridge, to Conjockety's creek at 
the old fording-place, now in Forest Lawn cemetery. By de- 
scending a steep bank, of about twenty feet, and turning im- 
mediately to the right, the creek was reached. On this bank, 
or bluff of high ground, there was a log building called the 
Lyon house. Mr Lyon lived there as early as 1806; but I do 
not know whether he or the Indians built the house. Near 
the traveled track, at the bottom of the hill, and before it 
crossed the creek, was a spring of good water; and near the 
house were several apple trees, planted by the early white set- 



tiers, if not by the Indians. When I first saw them, more than 
sixty-seven years ago, they were quite large. And I remem- 
ber, by the way, several apple trees which stood on the same 
(the north) side of this creek, near its mouth, where the Indian 
chief, CONJOCKETY (whose name it bears), had his dwelling- 
place. The Indians may have planted both these clusters of 
trees. They however disappeared long ago, through neglect, 
or by the ruthless hand of the white man. 

Crossing the creek, and continuing a short distance on the 
" flat," and passing a beautiful spring of water, the road, after 
a westerly course of thirty or forty rods, ascended to high 
ground, and turned southward. Soon it crossed the old 
"Gulf road," now Delavan avenue. This road took its name 
from the deep gulf caused by the running water from the 
"Jubilee" spring, and the " Staley " spring. The gulf was 
bridged as soon as the Holland Land Company's lands were 
surveyed, and about the year 1804. This Gulf road was the first 
and nearest one from our Main street (in the vicinity of Con- 
jockety's creek and " The Plains") to Black Rock. But it 
was little traveled, at an early day, and only in a dry time, or 
in winter when the ground was frozen. The old Guide-board 
road mentioned below, was the principal traveled road to 
Black Rock ferry from the east. 

After crossing the Gulf road, the old main road followed 
about the course of the present Delaware street, passing 
close by the Jubilee spring. Just north of this spring was a 
second log house, on what we used to call the " Remington " 
lot, or farm, Shadrach Remington and family having come 
and occupied this farm, before the war of 181 2. To the 
south of this Jubilee spring was a third log house, which 
was, I well remember, occupied by John Mains, and after- 
wards by George Wormwood. The road still following 
nearly the course of Delaware street, crossed lot No. 58, lying 
on the north side of the present Utica street; on which lot was 
a fourth log house, occupied by Christjohn Staley. Down 



64 

the hill, east of this house, was a fine large spring of water, 
which I remember visiting as early as 1810. The spring is 
still in the same place, and looking very much as it did more 
than seventy-four years ago. 

Near the present Utica street the road bore a little eastward, 
and after crossing this street, continued about parallel with 
Delaware, crossing lots 57, 56 and 55, (the "Cotton" lot); 
then bearing a little westward again, it crossed lots 54 and 53 
to the old Guide-board road (now North street). Here, turn- 
ing due west, the Guide-board road was followed to the point 
in York street where it has become Porter avenue. Thence 
bearing southwestward, along the line of the latter (and leav- 
ing the Guide-board road), the old main road went down to 
the river at the place formerly called Sandytown, — which will 
be described in the following paper. Here it struck the beach- 
road from Black Rock to Buffalo creek, which was for a long 
time the direct one between Black Rock and Buffalo, — indeed, 
in 1809, the Niagara street road was but lately opened, and 
hardly yet in common use. 

In passing, I may say that the Guide-board road, from the 
point where the main westward road left it, went northwest- 
erly, to " Black Rock " (which lay at the foot of the bluff, 
between the present site of the Niagara street car-barns and 
the river) and there communicated with "The Old Ferry." 

From Sandytown, the main road continued along the lake 
(or river) beach, to the mouth of Big Buffalo creek, following 
up the north bank of this creek to the entrance of Little Buf- 
falo creek (the present canal junction, at the foot of Commer- 
cial street) and thence up the west bank of this creek to the 
place where now is the Main street bridge over the " Ham- 
burg" canal, which occupies the original site of the creek 
channel, and then ascending the Terrace bluff, reached the 
center of the village. 

I have no personal recollection of a communication in the 
earliest times by wagon-way from the point above-mentioned 



65 

where the old main road entered the Guide-board road, to the 
village; but from descriptions, I think there must have been a 
foot and bridle path, nearly direct, passing that noble spring 
of water on the premises now owned and occupied by the 
Cornell White Lead Company, on the northeast corner of 
Delaware and Virginia streets. In a new country such paths 
usually go from one watering-place to another, and this 
course would be less than half as far as the wagon-track by 
way of the beach. But, in fact, in those days the road from 
the Cold Spring to near Conjockety's (or Granger's) creek, 
consisted of a log-way or causeway; and I have seen much of this 
road many times in the spring and fall of the year flooded with 
water. And after the road from Walden Hill to the Village was 
opened and became the main road, it was many times impas- 
sable for loaded teams. There was in those early times a 
slough-hole where Chippewa street crosses Main street. That 
was the natural course for the water to take from the wet 
and swampy lands adjoining, on the east side of the road, 
where Chippewa Market now stands. The village lot on the 
southwest corner of Main and Chippewa streets, where I^hilip 
Beyer's store is, was a bog-hole some six or eight feet in depth. 
This lot was offered to Benjamin Hodge, Sen., by Joseph 
EUicott, for ten dollars, but he refused to take it, as he did 
not consider it worth anything. 

It should be noted that before the Gulf road above-men- 
tioned was opened and the gulf bridged, those who lived in the 
vicinity of " The Plains " used to reach Niagara river by fol- 
lowing the north bank of Conjockety's creek. Many continued 
to do this for years after the Gulf road was opened, as it was 
better traveling. 

People from the neighborhood of the Cold Spring reached 
the river by going through the woods on the north side of lot 
No. 58, starting in about where Utica street now is, and keep- 
ing on the high ground; passing neax Staley's house and 
spring, and keeping on in a nearly direct course to the river. 



6^ 

As an incident illustrating the way things were done in the 
line of traffic over these roads from the east into Buffalo, I 
give the following: 

At one time, soon after the close of the war, there was no 
flour to be obtained in Buffalo. My father heard of a wagon- 
load coming in from the east, on the Batavia or Williamsville 
road, and sent a man named Jedediah Jackson out to meet 
and buy it, which he did, at fifteen dollars a barrel. 

At this time, and later, until 1825 or 1826, large "Pennsyl- 
vania wagons," painted blue and having white tow-cloth 
covers and wheel-tires six or eight inches in width, the teams 
drawing them consisting of five, six or seven horses, traveled 
the road from Albany to Buffalo, transporting merchandise. 
I remember the names of Robert (or Bob) Hunter, and 
Ephraim Gilbert and others who made a business of transport- 
ing goods for our merchants. Daniel H. Cotton, who resided 
on " The Plains " was for some time in this business. The price 
paid for transportation was six dollars per hundred pounds. 

Coming into Buffalo from the east, travelers all passed my 
father's house of entertainment, from the time when he first 
began to shelter and feed them, and they were as yet "few 
and far between," — journeying in their own conveyances, — till 
the growing and prosperous times when the four-in-hand mail- 
coach became the speedy and sure means of transit. 

But in those and in earlier as well as in later days, Buffalo 
was in fact a gate- way to the Great West. I am now to say 
something of the road-way from Buffalo into that then so little 
known, so largely undiscovered region. 

It may be truly said that though Buffalo was thus a gate- 
way, its creek, the natural feature which became the making 
of it, and the nature of the roads beyond, for a number of 
miles, really offered great obstructions as well as helps to 
travel, as will be presently seen. 

The journey west from Buffalo began at or near the point 
where the Mansion House now stands. The first part of the 



67 

road was for years that which has already been described, 
along the west and north banks of Little and Big Buffalo 
creeks to the mouth of the latter. In those days this stream 
was of little practical importance (even when commerce had 
begun) except for the use of flat-boats and smaller craft at 
favorable times, on account of the sand-bar across its mouth. 
And until the year 1809, this sand-bar was the crossing-place 
for those westward-bound; what little there was of the creek, 
there, being forded. Indeed, in those days we could some- 
times leap across the mouth of the stream, which had its 
outlet not directly into the lake, as now, but some distance 
further north, except when the channel was enlarged by a 
swollen current, forcing its way through the bar. 

By thus fording the creek the "peninsula" on the other 
side was reached, which then (and indeed as late as 1820 or 
1825, I think I may even say 1840) was covered with a heavy 
growth of timber. The road then followed the lake beach 
westward. 

In 1809 this beach-road was made more easily accessible by 
a ferry. This was established by Samuel Pratt, about a mile 
above the old fording-place, considerably above Little Buffalo 
creek, and a short distance above Dead creek (now the Ohio 
basin) near the place where Ohio street joins the foot of 
Louisiana street, and crosses Buffalo river. 

From this time the road westward from Buffalo Village fol- 
lowed the present Main street, southward — across Little Buf- 
falo creek, to Big Buffalo creek. There, near the foot of Main 
street, it turned eastward, following the north bank of the 
creek, to the ferry. The road ran quite near the bank, and 
in 1823, one of Mr. Pratt's daughters, driving with some others, 
passed too near, and the wagon was upset, precipitating them 
all into the water. A traveler hastened to their aid, and res- 
cued all except Miss Pratt, who was drowned. 

Later, in 1827 or 1828, this road was changed to its present 
location (Ohio street) farther from the bank, the space between 



68 

road and bank becoming afterwards occupied by warehouses 
and wharves. 

Fr6m the ferry, the road followed up the south bank of the 
creek, fifty or sixty rods, and then, turning to the right, 
reached the lake beach, and followed it, at a point three- 
quarters of a mile from the ferry. This was the only road 
west, till 1833, when the "turnpike" was built by O. H. 
Dibble, from the place where the Ohio street bridge now 
crosses the creek (or river) to the " Barker place," about six 
miles distant, on the lake shore. This turnpike was made 
through the alder swamp, a short distance back from the beach. 
On the way to Barker's, and about four and one-half miles 
from the ferry, travelers were compelled to ford " Smoke's 
creek," over which I think there was no bridge until during 
the war of 181 2-15. No bridge, however, could long remain 
there, as the water of the lake, forced by the high winds over 
the beach, would wash the structure away. The fording of the 
creek was always dangerous on occount of quicksand; and in 
times of high wind this danger was greatly increased. I have 
crossed on horseback when the horse barely succeeded in get- 
ting through; sinking so deep that it seemed to require all his 
strength to get out of the quicksand. I remember that a num- 
ber of years before the turnpike was built, a young lady was 
drowned in attempting to ford this stream in a wagon with 
other persons, during a high westerly wind; and that a traveler 
on horse-back was found frozen to death on the beach between 
the Leech farm, which was near the beach on the way from the 
ferry, and Smoke's creek. 

About a mile beyond "Barker's" was Daniel Camp's tavern, 
seven miles from where the road struck the beach. In then 
going along the beach westward to Abbott's, three miles, and 
thence to Jackson's, three-quarters of a mile, there were several 
bluff points to " round," as it was called. These consisted of a 
bold shore, the rocky ba^nk being from twenty to forty feet in 
height, and nearly perpendicular. In a still time the water 



69 

would be from one to two feet deep, around these points; 
and when the wind was blowing from the east, the beach 
would be quite bare for the space of a rod or more between 
the rocky bank and the water. If the wind was blowing even 
but moderately from the west, however, the water would be up 
to the horses' breasts. There have been instances of travel- 
ers' being hgre submerged, with their wagon-loads of house- 
hold goods, and sustaining much loss; but I never heard of 
any loss of life from rounding these points. 

It is now many years since I last traveled over that road; 
and nearly or quite fifty years since I have been down to the 
beach near those points. When I was last there, I noticed 
several large boulders lying in the water near the shore; and can 
well remember now, that when a boy, I used to wade out and 
get upon them, as they were then only slightly submerged. 
The water had even then encroached upon the narrow beach; 
so much so that the travel had entirely ceased on the beach 
road between Camp's and Abbott's taverns. I am not aware 
of any record being kept of the rise and fall of the water of 
Lake Erie, but this much I do know, — it is somewhat higher 
at this end than when I was a boy, seventy-two years ago. 

My father was one of the three Commissioners appointed to 
lay out the road on the shore of the lake. He wanted to run 
it, as nearly as practicable, on tlie direct line from Barker's to 
Jackson's, which would have taken it back quite a distance 
from the lake. The other Commissioners, — I do not remem- 
ber who they were, — disagreed with him. They were for lay- 
ing it out to accommodate every one whose farm it crossed, 
by running it near to each man's house, and all had built their 
dwellings near the shore of the lake. The Commissioners nec- 
essarily, therefore, made many angles or crooks in the road to 
carry out their plan. As it has proved, since, it would have 
been much more for the interest of the owners of the farms, as 
well as for that of the public, to have placed the road at a 
greater distance from the lake. 



70 

In clearing up their farms the land-owners had left a strip of 
woods next to the lake shore, as a screen for protection from 
the winds; but these woods long since disappeared. 

At the Jackson place the old road left the beach, as it now 
does. There was no more rounding of points above here, the 
water being too deep. The road continued upon the high 
bank, and bore off from the lake, as it crossed the " Eighteen- 
mile" creek, and went on to and through " Cattaraugus " 
woods, or, as they were also called the " Four-mile " woods. 
These were a terror to all travelers in those early days. 
Immediately after the war of 1812-15 many families left the 
New-England States and moved west into the northern part 
of Ohio, which was then called the "Western Reserve," or 
" New Connecticut." All journeyed by land, with their own 
teams and covered wagons. There have been as many as 
twelve wagons loaded with household goods and accompanied 
by their owners with their entire families, at one time " putting 
up " over night at " Hodge's brick tavern on the hill," the 
whole of them bound for the Western Reserve. They had all 
heard of the terrible road through the Cattaraugus woods, but 
it could not be avoided; and therefore they would go in com- 
pany, and make calculation to enter the woods in the morning 
that they might lessen the chances of remaining there over night. 
It is a literal fact that stage-passengers were not only obliged 
often to walk through the "woods," but also, sometimes, to 
carry rails or poles on their shoulders to pry up the stage- 
wagon or coach, whichever it might happen to be. 

Speaking of the coach, — the old four-horse carry-all, — it was 
indeed one of the great "institutions" of that period. All 
paid it due deference by stepping out of the way, and giving 
it the whole road whenever it was met. And how cheery and 
inspiriting were the far-reaching blasts of the driver's tin horn, 
sounding merrily over hill and dale, and at last reaching the 
expectant ear of the keeper of the hotel or tavern. He had anx- 
iously awaited the sound, as, by a preconcerted arrangement 



71 

with the driver, it signified to hirti the number of hungry pas- 
sengers, who in a few minutes would be clamoring for a hot 
breakfast, while the horses were changed. In a few moments 
the steaming teams, followed by the lumbering coach, ap- 
peared on the crest of the distant hill, or at the first curve in 
the road. The sight of their accustomed stopping-place, where 
they knew that they would find rest and provender, gave the 
animals new courage, and, pricking up their ears, they would 
come up to the door in fine style, the old coach creaking and 
straining at every joint. 

The passengers, hurriedly dismounting, would hasten into 
the tavern, and endeavor, while the horses were being changed, 
to satisfy the cravings of their appetite. The fresh spans 
would be standing ready, and it would be the work of but a 
few moments to put them into the places of those that had 
already done their duty; and when the cheery but peremptory 
cry of "all aboard" was heard, the unfortunate passengers, 
who had taken just about enough to aggravate their hunger, 
would rush out and tumble into the coach, and the fresh 
" team " with the " Commodore " already on the " box," would 
start off at a spanking gait, while sharp cracks from his nine- 
foot lash were heard sounding over the leaders' backs! 

But, as the years passed and Buffalo grew, and the Great 
West loomed up more and more attractively, commerce and 
passenger transit by the lakes rapidly increased. Then came 
the strife between Buffalo and Black Rock as to which should 
be the "port" at this most important point in the great route 
westward. From 1818, steam navigation was established; and 
at the same time the vast project of a canal to connect- the 
ocean and the lakes in one great water thoroughfare began to 
take shape. 

To all this, the opening of Buffalo creek was believed nec- 
essary, and it was accomplished. On account of that sand-bar 
at its mouth, vessels and steamboats could not come into the 
otherwise commodious natural harbor, but must lie off in the 



19 

lake or bay, or at anchor under Bird Island during the transfer 
of cargoes and passengers by means of small boats. But it 
was determined that Black Rock must yield to Buffalo in the 
fierce commercial strife, and that bar must be removed and 
a harbor formed. So, "in April, 1818, at the instance of citi- 
zens of Buffalo, an act of the Legislature was passed, author- 
izing a survey of the creek, at the expense of the County of 
Niagara, which then included it, with reference to deter- 
mining the feasibility of constructing a harbor; and William 
Peacock made the survey in the following summer, gratui- 
tously. Although the report of this survey was favorable, nei- 
ther the General Government nor the State would assume the 
work. But the latter, in 1819, by law, agreed to loan $12,000 
for its construction, on being secured by bond and mortgage 
for its repayment. Oliver Forward, Charles Townsend, 
George Coit and Samuel Wilkeson gave the required secu- 
rity in the fore part of 1820, and a stone pier was forthwith 
commenced. It was prosecuted and finished under the super- 
intendence of Samuel Wilkeson, in 1821, in two hundred and 
twenty-one working days, and extended into the lake for about 
eighty rods, into twelve-foot water."* 

In constructing this pier to make or improve our harbor, it 
was necessary to have a large cast-iron hammer, or something 
very heavy, to drive the piles to keep the timber-cribs in their 
places. There was no iron-foundry in Buffalo at that time; 
no pile-driver had ever been used here, and there were no 
facilities for procuring one. Mr. Wilkeson tried to get one 
from a furnace in Ohio, but did not succeed. There were no 
railroads then in this western country, nor was the Erie canal 
in practical existence until some eight years subsequently. 
To procure a pile-driver from Albany or the interior of Penn- 
sylvania, or anywhere else where there were iron foundries, 
was quite out of the question. Then was demonstrated the 



* Publications Btiffalo Historical Society^ vol. i.^^p-Syq. 



73 

truth of the proverb that "necessity is the mother of inven- 
tion," by the contrivance which was produced to drive those 
piles. Samuel Wilkeson had undertaken to improve Buffalo 
harbor, and was determined to succeed. There was in the vil- 
lage "lying around loose," yet very heavy and quiet, a cast- 
iron mortar that had been used against the British in the War 
of 1S12-14, and with this Mr. Wilkeson believed he could 
do the needed work. One of the trunnions of this mortar had 
been broken off. To fit it for its new purpose, the other 
must be broken off also. The services of Whipple Hawkins, 
a well-known blacksmith, who resided outside of the village, 
at the corner of (the present) Main and Utica streets, were 
called into requisition to do this, and rig certain wrought-iron 
fixtures to the mortar for the purpose in hand; and thus it 
was actually made to do good service in driving the piles nec- 
essary in making Buffalo harbor. And this was " continued 
in office," as a pile-driver in this harbor for many years. 
This old and, at least to a few still living, familiar, object, 
can be seen, minus some of the wrought-iron fixtures, still 
standing guard at the corner of Main and Dayton streets. 
Truly it is like an old soldier whose early services were pow- 
erful and effective; and afterward, in time of peace, still more 
useful in helping to facilitate and improve the commerce of 
our country. And so now, after the lapse of more than fifty 
years, this old mortar's former position, both in war and in 
civil service, having been filled by improvements which are 
better calculated to do the work required, it has been retired, 
and stationed where it can be looked upon with the admira- 
tion and respect it so well deserves. 

Judge Wilkeson died July 7, 1848. It was only a few 
months before his death that I was standing on the sidewalk 
at the corner before mentioned, conversing with him, when he 
pointed to the old mortar and said: "Some of these days 
I am going to give them an inscription to place upon it;" but 
he did not say what it would be. I inferred from what he 



74 

did say, that it would relate to its having been the first pile- 
driver used in Buffalo, or in Western New York. 

But the work of opening the harbor was only in part com- 
pleted when this pier was built. Up to this time, the obstruct- 
ing bar of sand was twenty rods wide, rising seven feet above 
the lake, and sixty rods long. The effect of it had been to 
turn the course of the creek northward, nearly parallel with 
the shore, for a distance equal to the length of the bar. 

The thing now done was to make the creek work its own 
way through the bar straight out, alongside the pier, into the 
lake, and to deepen the channel thus formed by digging out 
sand and gravel. The first was done by ingeniously damming 
the creek at the right time and letting the current do the rest. 
The last was done by dragging the sand and gravel out of the 
bed of the creek with a great log scraper, after the fashion of 
those used in early times for smoothing road-ways. Thus a 
channel deep enough for small vessels was opened, and Buffalo 
harbor from a wish and a plan had become a fact. 

Yet even then the crowning success was to come. For 
when, in 1822, a second steamboat was to be built, to succeed 
the wrecked IValk-in-the-water, a strong pressure was brought 
to bear from Black Rock against its being built at Buffalo, on 
the ground of the insufficiency of the harbor. But a promise 
was made by Buffalo not only to furnish timber at a quarter 
less expense than Black Rock would charge, but, under judg- 
ment-bond, to pay the builders one hundred and fifty dollars 
for every day the new craft should be kept from sailing out of 
Buffalo harbor, by obstructions in it, after May i, 1823. And 
so the Superior was built on the shore of Buffalo creek (or the 
new Buffalo harbor), a short distance above the foot of Main 
street. 

"The completion of the harbor, such as it was, had given 
force to the general considerations in favor of continuing the 
Erie canal to Buffalo; and the decision of the Canal Board to 
that effect in the winter of 1822, was published in the report of 



75 

1823, to the great joy of the care-worn and anxious inhabitants 
of the village."* 

But, as so often happens with human enterprises, not all 
was "plain sailing" yet. The spring freshets of 1823 were 
still depended on to help Buffalo to do its part of the bargain, 
and escape paying the penalty of a violated bond. And it so 
came about that instead of helping, they hindered. An ice ob- 
struction drove the outrushing waters back, and a deposit was 
spread thus in the channel, so nearly filling it that it must be 
removed, or failure would result. Equal to the emergency, 
Buffalo citizens at once subscribed an amount sufficient to do 
the clearing-out work necessary, and it was done. The sub- 
scription-list then made has fortunately been preserved, and is 
an interesting bit of Buffalo history. Though it has been occa- 
sionally published, I present here the list of names and the 
amount subscribed to improve Buffalo harbor in 1822, copied 
from Cutting's Directory of Buffalo for the years 1848 and 1849: 

Ebenezer Johnson, in goods at cash price $rro 00 

Sylvester Mathews, in bread 25 00 

James Read 12 50 

Elisha Williams, in labor and goods by H. B. Potter 50 00 

William Mason, in beef 5 00 

Joseph Stocking 25 00 

S. G. Austin 12 50 

G. and T. Weed, including a subscription a few days since 20 00 

O. Newbury 20 00 

Ezekiel Folsom, in meat from the market 12 50 

Samuel Wilkeson 100 00 

Townsend & Coit 100 00 

H. B. Potter, cash $50; bricks $25 75 00 

E. F. Norton 50 00 

Moses Baker, in labor and blacksmith work 50 00 

Thomas C. Love 25 00 

John G. Camp, in cash or labor 50 00 

William Ketchum, $20 cash, $30 in hats 50 00 

John A. Lazell 25 00 

* Publications Buffalo Historical Society^ vol. i..,p.sSo. 



76 

Lucius Gold, in labor 50 oo 

Samuel A. Bigelow, in goods or labor 25 00 

William Folsom 25 00 

John Root 25 00 

Jabez Goodell, in labor, provisions, etc 25 00 

H. M. Campbell, in hats or labor 25 00 

Hart & Cunningham, in goods 50 00 

Sheldon Chapin, in goods 50 00 

J. D. Hoyt, in boots and shoes 50 00 

A. James, in goods 

P. G. Jenks 5 00 

R. B. Heacock & Co., horse $15, goods $35 50 00 

Thomas Quigly, in labor 12 50 

Timothy Page 5 00 

Thomas More 2 00 

Martin Daley, in labor 625 

A. Bryant, in goods and clothing 50 00 

H. R. Seymour 50 00 

Nathaniel Vosburgh, saddlery 12 50 

F. B. Merrill, in labor 25 00 

John E. Marshall 25 00 

D. M. Day 12 50 

Z. Piatt 625 

E. Walden, in goods 100 00 

J. Guiteau, in labor or cash 12 50 

Cyrenius Chapin 100 00 

James Demarest, in saddlery 5 00 

D. Hennion, 100 lbs. pork when called for 

W. T, Miller, in fresh meat at market in Buffalo Village 50 00 

Selden Davis 5 00 

William Hodge, in labor or materials 25 00 

Velorus Hodge, in work or materials 5 00 

Benjamin Hodge, in lumber 5 00 

William Long, a certain brown cow with a white head, to be ap- 
praised by commissioners of Harbor Association 

Roswell Hosford, in produce or provisions 5 00 

W. W. Chapin, in team work 10 00 

Zacliariah Griffin, 10 bbls. lime to be delivered in Buffalo 6 25 

Alvan Dodge in team-work and manual labor 10 00 

H. A. Salisbury, in produce and hats 12 50 

Hiram Pratt, in goods 25 00 



77 

Erastus Gilbert, in goods 25 oo 

" " bbl. pork 1000 

" " cash 250 

Oliver Coit, one crowbar $3, cash $5 8 00 

Joseph Dart, Jr., in hats 10 00 

Benjamin Caryl, in pork 25 00 

This subscription amounted to $1,361.25, exclusive of the cow 
and pork, the whole of which was paid except $rio. The pro- 
visions and goods were paid to the workmen without loss, but on 
much of the other property (which was sold at auction) there 
was an average loss of about thirty-seven and a half per cent. 

Vigorously using the aid thus furnished, the citizens had 
their harbor ready before the time named in their bond ex- 
pired; and the steamboat ^«//^/7'^r, launched April 16, 1823, was 
forthwith piloted out of Buffalo harbor, in triumph, and taken 
to the dock at Black Rock and there fully fitted out; and she 
sailed thence on her first trip to Detroit, April 23, 1823, seven 
days before the time named in the citizens' bond had expired. 
And thus was fulfilled a remarkable prophecy, which stands 
recorded in the Buffalo Patriot of that date, April 23, 
1823, as follows: "Prophecy. — The following is taken from 
a communication published in the Buff'alo Gazette of January 
2, 1816, headed ''New Years Vision.' After alluding to Buf- 
falo, the future Emporium of the West, then come the words: 
' We saw the steamboat Superior approaching with majestic 
grandeur, her decks crowded with passengers, and her smoke 
ascending in undulating columns through the air, which height- 
ened the scene around her.' " This was written seven years 
before the event, and two before a steamboat was on Lake 
Erie. In the last week in June, the Superior entered Buffalo 
harbor on her third or fourth return trip from Detroit, having 
till then made Black Rock her stopping-place. From that 
time, her port was Buffalo. And now Buffalo was all ready, 
when the canal should be finished and opened through to Buf- 
falo harbor, to set out on that new career of prosperity which, 
with the variations incident to all human progress, has been so 
remarkable, to the present day. 



78 
N.— SANDYTOWN, THE FLATS, ETC. 



In the course of the preceding paper, at pages 64 and 67, 
I have mentioned Sandy toivn and the Little Buffalo creek. 
I have also mentioned the "alder swamp" which used to oc- 
cupy the low lands between the Terrace bluff and the lake 
south and west of the village; the latter section having for a 
long time been known as The Flats. As it was over and 
through these that wagon-roads, harbor, canal and railroads 
have been successively opened and established, it is fitting that 
something more specific should be recorded concerning them. 

As to Sandytown, it was, in the war-time of 1812-15, ^ 
place of considerable note, and in fact of nearly as much im- 
portance, locally, as Black Rock, or Buffalo itself. But now, 
as a settlement and even as a region, it is known no longer, 
save as it is remembered by those of a former generation. It 
lay, as has been said, nearly at the foot of the present Porter 
avenue, formerly York street, to the south of and adjoining 
the place where the Erie canal enters Black Rock harbor. It 
was naturally a sand-beach, with a plentiful supply of high, 
large sand-hills. And here, among and back of these hills on 
the land side was a collection of log and board buildings, 
slightly and cheaply put up, and facing towards the east, — the 
hills being their rear protection from the storms. The place 
was thus, as is evident, very properly named. 

While our army held possession of Fort Erie in 1814, Sandy- 
town was a ferrying-place for crossing the river. It was also 
the place where the hospital was kept for our sick and 
wounded soldiers during that time. Many a soldier's body 
was buried in the sand at this place; and for years afterward 
bones were from time to time washed out by the water of the 
lake. Many bones were also dug out by those who were haul- 
ing the sand away for building purposes. 



79 

Before the pier was built, which forms Black Rock harbor, 
or more properly, a part of the Erie canal, Sandytown was 
the best place in this vicinity for catching fish with a hook, 
from the river. Early morning was the best time to make sure 
of a " good string," say from sunrise till the sun was two 
hours high. I have been there with a line having two hooks 
baited with minnows, and had fine sport. The operation was 
somewhat like this: after baiting the two hooks I would wade 
in till the water was up to above my knees, then throw the line 
the full length over into the river, and begin to walk slowly to 
shore; and I would be almost sure to have a fish on one hook, 
often on each of them, before I was out of the water. I have 
caught fifty or more white bass and pike, in a single morning, 
at some seasons of the year, say in the months of June and 
July. The building of the Black Rock pier spoiled the fishing 
from the beach, at this place. 

This point used to be noted as the place where the Indians 
caught their fish. It was a treaty stipulation, when they sold 
their lands at Buffalo, that the reserved right should be theirs 
of catching fish in the river, and of using the floodwood found 
on the beach for their fires. This, however, like most, if not 
all, of the stipulations and reservations made on their behalf, 
never resulted in much benefit to them. 

Many of the white inhabitants, also, who settled here at an 
early day, depended much upon catching fish in the river, as 
part of the supply of food for their families. There were few 
living here then who would not catch fish as necessity required, 
as well as use the gun for killing game, to meet their wants. 
They had no meat markets to supply them as we now have, 
and if they had had those, but little money could be got to 
buy with. They were obliged to get along with what they 
could raise on a few cultivated acres, and otherwise procure 
by their own labor, and go without the rest. Flouring-mills 
were few and far between. I remember that my grandfather 
Abbott's family were obliged to send in 1812 to Niagara Falls 



8o 

to get their grain ground, the mill there being the one easiest 
reached; and to this they took their grain by water, in a " dug- 
out," — the going and returning requiring several days. A fish- 
ing-ground like that at Sandytown was, therefore, a very im- 
Dortant part of the means of comfortable living, for the people 
in this region. 

But Sandytown, with its many banks and hills of sand, and 
its skirting of forest trees and bushes, swamps and marshes, 
near by, is, as I have stated, among the things that were. 
The encroachments of the water, and the carting away of sand 
for the city's needs, have narrowed and leveled and sunk the 
beach, till little is left of the region as it once was. To this 
result, the cutting away of the natural growth of trees and 
bushes all along immediately back of, and upon, the ridge of 
sand, has come. The sand and the woods and bushes formed 
a protection against the inroads of the wind-driven waters; 
and the sand-barriers were themselves protected and increased 
by the woody growth. In 1816 the lake line of the beach 
averaged nearly a quarter of a mile from the present line of 
the Erie canal, — now it is not more than a third of that dis- 
tance. In 1848 nearly half that early distance had been eaten 
away and covered by the water. In 1855 the beach line, though 
considerably farther in, still gave the Niagara Falls railroad an 
all land track, half-way between the canal and lake; while now 
it runs close along, and, but for stone fortifications, through, 
the edge of the lake. And how frequently the railroad has 
been washed away, and how it is assailed and sometimes made 
impassable by the waters, we all know. Yet this is not at all 
to be wondered at, in view of the destruction of all the natural 
barriers, which might have protected the whole region. Is 
there not reason to fear that in time to come, by reason of this 
treatment of our water-front, storms, sweeping in over the lower 
grounds of the city, much as they have been raised, may cause 
greater destruction of life and property than has ever occurred 
from a similar cause ? 



8i 

And this leads to something more concerning these low 
levels of the city next the lake and along the Big and Little 
Buffalo creeks, — The Flats as they were so long called. 
This section, beginning at Sandytown, was a broad reach of 
low lands, extending southeastward between the lake beach 
and the high ground, all the way around to Little Buffalo 
Creek, and above it, eastward, quite a distance. 

This creek was sluggish from source to mouth. It left the 
woods about where Michigan street crosses the canal. Above 
this point beaver and otter abounded, till the woods were cut 
away, about the year 1828. Below, it wound its way through 
the flats across Main street, almost hidden in the tall grass and 
rushes, till it entered Big Buffalo creek. But, for the last two 
miles of its course it has lost its form, and, as a stream, its ex- 
istence as well as its name. Its bed is merged in the canal 
which (coming from Hamburg street near " The Hydraulics," 
where it receives the old creek as a mill-race), is called the 
Main and Hamburg Street canal ; crossing Main street to 
Pearl joins the Erie canal, and with it, runs southwesterly 
forming the Commercial Slip, to the harbor. Where 
the two canals thus join, at the head of Commercial slip, 
there was, in the early days, on the margin of the creek, and 
beside the road, a fine spring of water, with a barrel or cask 
set in it, for public use. Where Commercial slip enters the 
harbor, just east of the foot of Commercial street, which was 
part of the old main road into and out of Buffalo, was the 
mouth of Little Buffalo creek. This creek still retains its 
name and original course from its source near the eastern 
boundary of the city, to a point near Seneca street, at the 
junction of that street and Fillmore parkway, where it unites 
with the old Hydraulic canal. 

" The Flats," west of Little Buffalo creek, were mostly a 
swamp and full of bogs, and subject to inundation from the 
lake. They contained some alders and other bushes, and many 
ponds of various sizes; and here ducks, and consequently 



82 

hunters, used to congregate. It is straight through the middle 
of them that the Erie canal was dug, which was opened for 
traffic in 1825. But, to that time, and even to 1830, the whole 
region was considered of little value. It could be bought for 
a few dollars per acre. It was not supposed that this land 
would ever be occupied and used to build upon. So exposed 
was it that I have seen floodwood driven up over it and left at 
the foot of the Terrace, within a hundred and fifty feet from 
where the liberty-pole now stands. East of Main street, too, 
it was sometimes, in high winds, before that region was filled 
up, covered with rolling, surging lake-water, which floated off 
wood, lumber, buildings, boats, — destroying and damaging 
much property. A number of years since, near the old gas- 
works, situated upon some of this land, meeting one of our 
townsmen, the late R. W. Haskins, I observed to him, "We 
did not think, forty or fifty years ago, that we should have gas 
burning in our streets and houses." "No," he answered; 
adding, "and who would have thought we should have to 
come down here into this swamp to pay for it." The digging 
of the Erie canal has drained these swamps and filled up this 
low land, and brought it into immensely valuable use. 



O.— PUBLIC EXECUTIONS IN BUFFALO. 

[See page i6, line 3.] 



At this mention of the year 1831 I insert the following ac- 
count of all the public executions of criminals which have 
taken place in Buffalo, the latest having occurred in that year. 

At a club meeting of the Buffalo Historical Society held 
March 24, 1879, at the residence of Capt. E. P. Dorr, a paper 
was read by Rev. Sanford Hunt, D. D., on the Life and Char- 
acter of the late Elder Glezen Fillmore. The discussion which 
followed concerning his experiences as a pioneer of Methodism 
in Buffalo, and the surrounding country, was particularly full 



as to his exercise of his ministerial office in attending and 
officiating on three several occasions at the execution by hang- 
ing of men guilty of murder; these executions taking place 
during the first ten of his fifty years' labors as a minister on 
this frontier. 

The present paper was written by me as a volunteer 
sketch, — which, however, was not read before the Society, — 
called out by this part of the paper and discussion. I had 
resided in Buffalo some years before there were any execu- 
tions here, and I have been an eye-witness of all the public 
executions which have taken place in Buffalo, excepting one. 
Our newspapers in early times gave but meager accounts of 
local matters; and as I do not remember to have seen any 
account of some at least of these occurrences, I give from 
memory my recollections of those I witnessed. 

There have been six public executions in Buffalo, of twelve 
different persons, five under the military law, by shooting, 
and seven under the civil law by hanging. 

The first and second of these took place within the first two 
years of the War of 1812. Elder Fillmore then resided in the 
town of Clarence, now in this county, then in Niagara, and I 
presume did not attend these, as they were military. He did 
attend the hanging of two soldiers for murder, in 1815; of 
William Godfrey, a soldier, in 1819; and of the three Thayer 
brothers, in 1825. 

The first of the military executions was that of four young 
soldiers at once, by shooting. This I witnessed. Five sol- 
diers had been tried by court-martial for deserting; all were 
found guilty, and sentenced to be shot. Five graves were dug, 
in front of which plain board coffins were placed. The five 
condemned men knelt on these coffins, having their arms 
pinioned. When the white caps which they wore were drawn 
down over their faces, a platoon of soldiers with muskets 
silently marched up in front of them. One, however, having 
(unbeknown to himself) been reprieved, was to be spared; four 



84 

only were to receive the volley. After the firing only three of 
these four fell. One still remained in his kneeling position, 
when a subaltern officer, near by, quickly walked up quite near 
with a pistol in his hand, and shot him through the head; when 
he also fell, on his coffin. 

An awful thing it was to stand near by and see a young man 
in full vigor of life thus put out of existence. I remember 
seeing the brains oozing out of his skull as he was lifted up 
and laid in his coffin; though, as I was only eight years of age, 
I of course did not realize the horror of the deed as I would 
have done if of maturer years. 

The condemned men as they knelt on their coffins were 
facing the north. I was standing at their left, about thirty feet 
away and a little forward toward the front. Two of the three 
first shot fell backward into their graves, and soldiers standing- 
by jumped down and lifted them up; and when the fourth was 
shot, the four bodies were put into the coffins and buried. 
The fifth man, who was to escape by reprieve, after experienc- 
ing the horrible dread of being shot, fainted at the report of 
the muskets and fell upon his coffin. It was some time before 
he became conscious, and could understand and believe that 
his life had been spared by a reprieve. His youth and the 
fact that he had been induced by older men to desert, had 
operated to free him from the threatened penalty. 

This execution took place at about the place where Court 
street now runs, and west of Niagara street a short distance. 
I should locate it to the northward of the Wilkeson homestead 
and a little further west. At that time the ground in that 
vicinity was quite uneven, lying in knolls and hollows, and 
considerably covered with bushes, and many scattering trees. 

The second execution was also military. This I did not 
witness. It took place in the spring of 1813, in General 
Smyth's cantonment on "Flint Hill." This was on part of 
the Granger farm lying between Main street and the present 
Forest Lawn cemetery. It was also between tlie Chapin farm 



85 

now owned by Elam R. Jewett and the present residence of 
Mr. Brayley. 

The third execution was in 1815. In January of this year 
the war closed. During the following summer, early one 
morning, an orderly and two private soldiers with muskets 
were traveling along the road near the bank of Niagara river, 
one or two miles below Black Rock, or rather below Conjock- 
ety's creek. Passing a farmer's garden, they saw fit to go in 
and help themselves to some of its produce. The owner's 
name was James Burbee, and his son, a young man, seeing 
them in the garden, went out and ordered them away. After 
some altercation the subaltern drew up his musket, and shot 
young Burbee down. 

The three were arrested and put in jail. After lying there 
some time they broke jail and escaped. The orderly who did 
the deed was never retaken. The other two, Charles Thomp- 
son and James Peters, after being hid for two or three days 
in Roswell Hosford's barn, on "The Plains," were discovered, 
brought back to jail and in due time tried, found guilty of 
murder and hung. This was in August, 1816. I was present 
at this and all the remaining executions which I shall mention. 
This was one of those that Elder Fillmore attended, in the ex- 
ercise of his ministerial office. The gallows was erected near the 
place where the four soldiers were shot. The graves of these 
men were dug, and their bodies buried, at the foot of the 
gallows. 

As the criminal law has been administered in this State for 
fifty years or more, these two young men would not have 
been executed. 

The fourth capital punishment was the hanging of William 
Godfrey. He was a soldier, — stationed at Fort Niagara on 
duty as an orderly sergeant. One of his fellow soldiers had 
been guilty of a misdemeanor, and Godfrey was ordered to put 
him in the Black Hole, a place of punishment. The soldier 
resisted, and caused Godfrey much trouble, so that he was 



86 

obliged to use strong force to get him in. This resistance and 
his abusive language had greatly excited and enraged Godfrey. 
After the soldier was finally in the prison hole, and the 
sergeant had turned to leave him, he applied some bitter 
epithets to Godfrey, who then made a backhanded thrust with 
his musket, the bayonet of which entered the soldier's body, 
and caused his death. Fort Niagara being in Niagara County, 
which then included Buffalo, as county-seat, Godfrey was ar- 
rested and brought to Buffalo, put in jail, and tried for murder 
and found guilty. His case was taken to the Court of Ap- 
peals, and several months elapsed before it was examined. 
Our then sheriff. Col. James Cronk, who resided on his farm 
on Harris' Hill in the town of Clarence, was so confident that 
Godfrey would have a new trial, that he took the responsibility 
of bringing him home with him, and allowing him to remain 
there several months, doing chores and working about the 
house and garden. 

When the time came near for receiving the decision of the 
Court of Appeals, Sheriff Cronk mounted his horse and accom- 
panied Godfrey, who was on foot, to Buffalo. The sheriff 
stopped a little while at my father's tavern, while Godfrey 
walked on toward the village. After "taking something" at 
the bar, Col. Cronk told my father that he was taking Godfrey 
back to jail. Being asked if he was not afraid that he would 
run away, he answered " No," saying that he had the fullest 
confidence in him; that if he should not overtake him he 
would go straight to the jail and wait there until he came, 
which he actually did. 

Not many days after this, the decision of the Court of Ap- 
peals came, confirming the verdict, and the penalty was in- 
flicted December 3, 1819. This was the second of the three 
executions attended by Elder Fillmore. The gallows was 
erected a little north of the Terrace, between Pearl and Frank- 
lin streets, there being no buildings very near the spot. A 
grave was dug at its foot, and after the hanging the body was 
placed in a plain pine cofifin, and buried there. 



87 

Whether it remained there I cannot say. Probably some of 
the medical profession of that day could give some informa- 
tion on this point which I am unable to furnish. 

In this case a different result had been expected by most 
people. The sheriff was disappointed, and Godfrey had ex- 
pected at least a new trial, if not an acquittal. I well remem- 
ber how, when he was standing on the platform of the gallows, 
with the. rope around his neck, I did not believe that he would 
really be hung. And when the drop fell and left him swing- 
ing by the neck, I felt that a great wrong had been done to a 
fellow mortal, in the name of the Law. After hanging a few 
moments his hand relaxed from holding his white pocket- 
handkerchief, when it dropped and was carried by the wind 
some distance away, falling to the ground. 

The Law was intended to mete out justice to all, but I 
never believed it was just in Godfrey's case. 

The fifth public execution which I witnessed was that by 
hanging, of the three brothers Thayer, June 17, 1825, for the 
murder of John Love. The story of this affair has so often 
been told that the people of the city and county have become 
familiar with the main facts of it, yet I will state particularly, 
as 1 remember them now, some incidents connected especially 
with the execution, which I have never seen published. 

The day was fine; the people for two hundred miles around 
had begun to arrive the day before, and continued to come all 
through the night, and the morning before the hanging. The 
roads were full of persons coming to the village to see the 
" hanging-bee " as they called it. There were more people 
here on that day than ever before, and all our merchants had 
a profitable day's business of it, as did also our tavern-keepers. 
The military forces were called out, and toward noon 
formed in a hollow square in front of the old jail on Washing- 
ton street. I was at the time a member of a uniformed rifle 
company, Barent L Staats, Captain. The condemned men 
with some other persons were received within the square. 



when we were ordered to march, the band playing that solemn 
tune called " Roslyn Castle." We marched to the gallows, 
which had been erected on or very near the spot where the 
four soldiers were shot, and the two soldiers hung for murder, 
as before related, — that is, where Court street now is, a little 
west of Niagara street. Upon reaching the place the military 
were again formed in a large hollow square around the gallows. 
Our rifle company composed a part of the front line. " The 
Thayers " ascended the steps, to the platform. Some little 
time was occupied in seating them, reading the death-war- 
rant, and adjusting the ropes around their necks, after 
which a most impressive prayer was offered by Elder Glezen 
Fillmore, which was distinctly heard by the many thousands 
present. During this the condemned brothers knelt with the 
minister, and the silence was almost breathless, naught but the 
words of prayer being heard. When these were ended all rose 
from their kneeling posture; the doomed men shook hands 
with those on the platform and then with each other. It was 
a most impressive scene! When each had been placed by the 
sheriff so as to stand under the beam and on the fatal drop 
(which was made to swing back), and directly under the hook 
to which the rope was attached, their white caps were drawn 
down over their faces; and then the awful silence was broken 
by the terrible wailing of the three brothers, which grew more 
loud and intense each moment, until the sharp sword of the 
sheriff severed the rope that held the scaffold. Nor did it 
cease or lessen even then, till their heels had left the platform, — 
which was distinctly heard sliding down, as it sprung from 
under their feet, — and they had dropped to the length of their 
ropes; when it seemed echoed a thousand-fold by a simulta- 
neous and involuntary exclamation from the thousands of 
spectators, who till then had stood as if almost breathless, 
silently gazing on the dreadful scene. 

The gallows stood facing the east, our rifle company ex- 
actly in front, forming a part of the front line. 



89 

There had that morning been some hand-bills sold about 
the streets by the boys, representing the gallows as erected, 
and the Three Thayers hanging thereon. One was figured as 
having one of his legs drawn up, which proved a true repre- 
sentation, this circumstance actually occurring. 

While we were yet standing in the line, a question arose 
among us as to the relative position of the three corpses. 
I was allowed to walk up near the gallows, to ascertain the 
fact. The coffin of each had been placed in front of him with 
his name painted on it. I found that the eldest brother, 
Israel, was on the right. Nelson, the second, was next, and 
Isaac, the youngest, was on the left. 

After the bodies were taken down and placed in the cofitins, 
they were delivered to the friends of the brothers. The mili- 
tary were then marched up to Main street, and dismissed. 

The sixth and last public execution was that of Dibdell 
Holt, for the murder of his wife. This I also witnessed — but 
there was nothing so peculiar in the event that I need to add 
a particular description of it. The specially noticeable feature 
of it, was the speedy administration of the penalty. The crime 
was committed in the month of October. Holt plead guilty, 
and was executed November 22, 1831. 



P.— PIONEER REMINISCENCES. 

[See page i6, line 15.] 



These Illustrative Miscellanies are intended to relate chiefly 
to early times in Buffalo; and especially to what may be con- 
sidered its pioneer days. A convenient separation may be 
made between the earlier and later periods, at the years 1830- 
1832, when the settlement was changing from a village to a 
city; and this paper will give some glimpses of life in Buffalo 
in these and the previous years. 



9° 

I. — Perils and Escapes. 

Born in Exeter, Otsego Co., N. Y., December 20, 1804, I 
was an infant, less than six months old, when, June 16, 1805, 
we came to Buffalo. My earliest recollection is of living in the 
double log house already mentioned and described, on farm 
lot No. 35, — which was my home till I was eight years old. 
How plain in my remembrance is the scene! the road so lately 
cut through, full of stumps, logs and brush; many of the native 
forest trees being still standing round about. As I return in 
memory to those days, many things bring to mind that trustful, 
child-like hymn beginning 

"When in the slippery paths of youth 
With heedless steps I ran; 
Thine arm, unseen, conveyed me safe, 
And led me up, to man." 

On the bare floor of that log house I was once, a little creep- 
ing, toddling boy, discovered by my mother munching a 
" thousand-legged worm," with infantile satisfaction; my mouth 
filled, and face smeared, with its vile, poisonous substance. 
My mother had reason to fear that I had already swallowed 
enough of this to cause my death. How quickly she endeav- 
ored to remove the dangerous stuff, and cleanse my mouth, — 
to save her child! And he was saved, surviving the accident, 
and suffering only the damage of a very sore mouth, swollen lips, 
with a decided yet safe disrelish, lasting quite a while, for all 
animal food, especially of the worm species. But the mother! 
how constantly, with all her other cares, she has that of her 
children's health and life, and, in a new and scattered settle- 
ment, without the comfort of a physician near, ready, on call, 
to help! 

At another time, two years later, I was playing, with a sister 
two years older than myself, in the road in front of " the log 
house." We were having a happy time, out there bare- 
headed, bare-footed, in the dirt, making mud pies and dirt 
houses; and the mother within was thus for the time relieved 



91 

of some of her cares while she was attending to other domestic 
duties. But, hark! suddenly she hears a noise down the 
road. She hastens to the door to listen (for every new noise 
in such a place excites at least attention and curiosity), when 
the cry "Mad dog! mad dog!" falls distinctly on her ear. 
And there, in the very direction of the nearing cry, are her 
two children in the middle of the road, all unconscious of any 
danger. How quickly she rushes out, runs to them, seizes 
hold of them, catching one in each hand, and hurries them 
into the friendly house and shuts the door upon the frightful 
danger. And then going to the window, she realizes from 
what she has been permitted to snatch her loved ones. There, 
just where her children were playing, is a large yellow dog, 
with protruding tongue, frothing at the mouth, a death-threat- 
ening mad dog. And there, too, among that cherished flock 
of geese, the creature is seen quickly venting his madness by 
seizing, shaking and biting one of the fowls till he is satisfied, 
when he drops it, and trots on towards the village; on the road 
to which he is pursued, overtaken and killed. Yes, how inces- 
sant and severe are the toils and anxieties of the pioneer 
mother! How needful to her, the support of a real trust in 
One who ever orders all things for the best! 

And later, when other children had been added to the 
family, to one of these came a strange, and in her case fatal, 
injury. This was occasioned by the attack of a vicious fowl, 
which pierced her head with his strong, sharp spur. But this 
it was beyond the skill of any except trained physicians, yes, 
even beyond their skill, to treat successfully. Drs. Daniel 
Chapin, Cyrenius Chapin, Ebenezer Johnson and Josiah Trow- 
bridge, were all called to meet in council. They cut from the 
little head a circular piece of bone, three-quarters of an inch 
in diameter; they finished the work of trepanning the wound; 
but they could not save the child. She died, and was carried 
for burial to the Village Cemetery which then was wher&.now, 
in " Franklin Square," is the great City and County Building. 



92 

Yet, again, fifteen years had passed. The family home was 
no longer the log house, but it was the large brick house, on the 
rise of ground near by the old place. My sister and myself 
had grown up and become a young woman and a young man, 
when I had an adventure, calculated to remind me forcibly of 
the rescue by my mother in my infant days, and of the care 
of One more watchful even than a mother, that is over each 
from day to day, at every period of our life. 

Belonging to the family was a dog, a pet of the whole house- 
hold, named Prince, but affectionately called by the more en- 
dearing name of Pinny. He was knowing and active, full of 
fun and frolic, and ready whenever the children saw fit to give 
him a chance, to play with them. His usual place, in warm 
weather, was on the floor of a porch which covered the side 
door of the house. One day I was passing across the porch, 
when Pinny, who was lying in his usual place, jumped up and 
seized me with his teeth by the leg, tearing my pantaloons, and 
leaving a deep mark, the print of his teeth, upon my flesh, — but 
not so deep as to draw blood. So vexed was I that the trusted 
and loved pet should, unprovoked, thus attack one of the family, 
that I instantly turned to give the creature a kick, which he 
dodged, a process repeated several times, — he snarling and 
snapping at each charge. I then, failing to hit the dog, left 
him still snarling and snapping, and entered the house. 
I did not think much about the occurrence that day, but in 
the night the dog was heard barking, and proved to be worry- 
ing a cow. In the morning, however, he was found in his 
usual place on the porch floor, but appearing very dull, de- 
jected, and indeed, sick. 

When the cow was examined, her nose was found to be 
lacerated. She had defended herself with her horns, yet there 
was not a space which a finger would cover, that had not been 
bitten by the dog. And the decision was that Pinny was mad, 
and must be killed. 

I took my rifle, and loaded it, and called Pinny to follow me. 



93 

which he readily did, I going out the back way, through the 
garden, crossing several lots and fields, until I came down by 
the side of a piece of woods. How badly I felt, then, as I 
realized that I was about to take the life of the creature we 
had so loved. But the thought caftie to me of Abraham re- 
quired to sacrifice even his own son, and it helped me to think 
that it was comparatively a small duty to take a dog's life, and 
that too, when it was so plainly necessary. So I hissed Pinny 
past me, and as he ran forward put a ball through the back of 
his head, and he fell dead, never knowing what had killed him. 

But the cow became a source of danger. She had been 
kept in the yard, with her calf, and after some days she 
became raving mad, broke out of the yard, and ran up and 
down the road, with her head raised high and making the most 
awful bellowing I ever heard. Men and neighbors turned out, 
with clubs and pitchforks; and with much anxiety and fear, we 
succeeded in getting the rabid creature into the barnyard, 
where she was despatched. Her body was drawn off into the 
woods and buried. 

When, now, I look back, not only at these, but many other, 
perils of the way, and think of the little girl, my sister, who 
with me was snatched from what was almost certain to be a 
deadly danger, as growing up to be seventy years of age ere 
she died and was buried in our beautiful Forest Lawn, — and 
of myself, the infant, the boy, the venturesome youth, now 
when these words are published, having reached and passed 
my four-score years of life, — what reason I have to say, in the 
words of the last verse of the hymn I have quoted: 

" By thy hand restored, defended 

Safe through life thus far I've come; 
Safe, O Lord, when life is ended. 
Bring me to my heavenly home." 



94 

II. — Schools and Schoolmasters. 

My school experiences were very simple and primitive. 
I remember well the log school-houses in which up to 1822 I 
pursued my education. One, already mentioned, was about 
where Puffer street enters Main. Another was on Main street 
near where St. Paul street comes into it. And another was on 
the east side of Main street, on lot No. ^^, between the present 
Riley and Northampton streets. Though these were common 
or public schools, there was for several years no school district 
formed. The teachers were, in summer, females, receiving 
from one dollar and fifty cents to two dollars per week; in the 
winter, males, receiving from twelve to fifteen dollars per 
month. The teachers " boarded 'round," with the different 
families from which children attended the school. These 
schools were kept three or four months in the winter, and 
about the same time in the summer. 

When the districts were first organized, the school numbered 
One was down in the village, and ours at Cold Spring, 
was Number Two. At this time, also, the school-house was of 
logs, and was situated on Main street, near the Cold Spring, 
where Police Station No. 6 now is. A few years later our dis- 
trict was called Number Three, and so continued till we were 
included within the city. Our district is now numbered 
Sixteen. 

In January, 1822, the log school-house in our district was 
destroyed by fire and one of planks was then built; in which 
the next winter, 1823-4, I attended school. 

In those times, now about sixty-five years ago, the " school- 
masters were abroad," seeking employment. In 1820 there 
came into our neighborhood a man of ordinary appearance 
who after a little conversation proved to be of superior intelli- 
gence, and sought employment as teacher in our district 
school, which had been but recently organized. The trus- 
tees immediately engaged him for the winter as teacher, 
his "pay" to be twelve dollars per month, and to "board 



95 

'round." He proved to be a good teacher, and when the school 
closed in the spring of 182T, being out of employment, he 
offered to teach through the summer at so low a rate that he 
was re-engaged ; women having always before been the summer 
teachers. He continued to teach through the fall and was 
again re-engaged for the winter school which closed in the 
spring of 1822. He was my teacher for these two winters. 
Being one of the " big boys," I had to stay at home and work 
except in the winter-time, which was all that I could have for 
attending school. 

In both these winter-schools I studied Geography, with two 
or three others. Our class learned more from him in a short 
time, than we had ever learned in a much longer time, before. 
We had then no atlases, charts or maps, but our teacher would 
take a large slate (black-boards were not known here, then), 
and mark out the region about which we were studying, and 
explain to us the situation of places in relation to each other. 
This made a lasting impression on our minds, such as could 
not be made by reading alone. In this way, without sticking 
to the lesson we were studying, he would go on telling us 
about different parts of the world, giving locations, distances, 
number of inhabitants, productions, and many things which 
he had seen in his various travels. 

He was certainly possessed of a very superior mind, far 
above the ordinary class; and the account he gave of himself 
was quite remarkable. It was as follows: He was an illegiti- 
mate son of Alexander Hamilton, whom Aaron Burr killed in 
the lamentable duel which history details to us. He called 
himself Lot Stoddard. He grew up in an obscure place, 
without education, till he was fifteen years old, when, by some 
accident, he was injured, so that he was unable, for a time, to 
work, and then, it being in the summer season, he for six 
weeks attended a school which had a female teacher. This 
was all the " schooling " he ever enjoyed. He had no home, 
had been a wanderer over our country, had spent the most 



96 

of his life since arriving at manhood in several of our prin- 
cipal cities, and been meanwhile an actor in them on the 
stage; and had been several years on the Island of Cuba as 
an overseer, or, as it was then termed, a "slave driver." He had 
a more retentive memory than any other person I ever knew. 
He was a great reader, and related readily the contents of the 
books he had read. He conversed freely and familiarly on 
almost any subject that was brought up in ordinary conversa- 
tion. He certainly had talents largely partaking of those pos- 
sessed by him whom he claimed as his father. 

I have said that Mr. Stoddard had been an actor on the 
stage. So, the last winter he taught in our school, he pro- 
posed to get up some plays for the older scholars and himself. 
He went to Hezekiah A. Salisbury's book-store, the only one 
then in the village, but could not find books containing the 
plays he wanted. So he procured a novel from which some of 
the plays had been written, and with the help of these wrote 
them out in full from memory. He then gave to the scholars 
the parts which he deemed most suitable for them, respect- 
ively, to act. A stage was fitted up in my father's large ball- 
room in the " brick tavern," and after several rehearsals 
notice was published in the newspapers of Buffalo and Black 
Rock, that a free exhibition of the plays would be given on a 
certain evening. The room was crowded and the plays went 
off to the great enjoyment and satisfaction of all assembled. 
I do not remember that there was at that time any theater in 
Buffalo. 

In the coming spring it will be sixty-three years since these 
occurrences, yet how well I remember our school-teacher, who 
in one of the plays acted the two parts of "Count Flodoardo " 
and the bandit "Abilino." The plot was this: The Doge of 
Venice gives a pramise to Count Flodoardo, that if he will de- 
liver into his power the bandit robber Abilino, he will give 
him his daughter Rosibella in marriage. She is brought into 
the presence of Flodoardo and the Doge, and the promise is 



97 

renewed. Says Flodoardo: " If Abilino is once in your power, 
Rosibella shall be my bride." And, with dignity becoming 
his station, the Doge replies: "She shall, and not till then." 
Flodoardo then flings off a disguise that he has worn, and there 
stands before the Doge and the beautiful Rosibella the so- 
dreaded bandit, Abilino. The Doge is astonished, Rosibella 
quite passive, and the bandit insists that the father shall fulfill 
his promise. He hesitates, — then, intimidated by the bandit's 
array of pistols in his belt, takes his daughter's hand and 
places it in Abilino's, when he raises it aloft, as they walk 
away, exclaiming: "Triumph! Rosibella is the Bravo's bride." 

While teaching our school Mr. Stoddard went one day to the 
Indian Village, to call upon Red Jacket. At his home, a 
small log house, he found him, introduced himself, and told him 
that he had a great desire to see him, Red Jacket, the famous 
Chief of the Seneca Tribe. Jacket seemed pleased to see Mr. 
Stoddard, and they talked together about many things. The 
Chief could speak English very well when he chose, but always 
refused to do it, when he could have an interpreter. He ex- 
hibited to his visitor all the medals he had received from our 
Government, one being from General Washington. He also 
went to his chest, unlocked it, and took out and placed upon 
the table four silver goblets (which had been given him for his 
services to our cause) and a well filled jug of whiskey. All 
the goblets were displayed with the stone jug and a pitcher of 
water for the two to drink from. Finally, Mr. Stoddard came 
away highly pleased with his visit to Red Jacket. 

This singular teacher left our neighborhood that spring. 
I never heard \yhat became of him, though he left here for the 
west. He had a roving disposition, did not seem to value 
money, was always poor, and appeared to be one cast upon the 
world without relatives or friends. Yet, to me, he seemed to 
be a man above the- average of our statesmen at that time, 
one fitted to have been a great man. 

The immediate successor of Mr. Stoddard in teaching our 



98 

winter school (that is, in the winter of 1823-4, and in the new 
plank school-house), was a person of an entirely different 
character and position in society. He was a student in a law- 
ofifice in the village, and applied to Capt. Wm. T. Miller, 
Alvan Dodge and William Hodge, Sen., Trustees, to take our 
school. He did this, he said, because it was necessary for him 
to earn some money in order to continue his studies. They 
employed him, agreeing to pay him twenty dollars per month, 
he to "board 'round." 

He proved to be an excellent teacher, and very gentlemanly, 
modest and pleasant in his deportment. In one thing I thought 
his teaching superior to that of any of my former teachers, and 
this was in "putting out words " for the first class to spell. 
For, after pronouncing the word, and before it was spelled, he 
gave the definition. His power over the scholars in con- 
trolling them, was that of persuasion; and consisted almost 
entirely in his pleasing affability and gentleness of manner. 
He had some pretty noisy and mischievous scholars to deal 
with, yet during the whole winter and spring of his teaching, 
none of us saw a frown upon his face. He appealed to our 
better feelings and principles, and, as it were, put us upon our 
parole of honor; and he never inflicted corporal punishment. 

This teacher, as I said, like the other, "boarded 'round" 
with the families whose children went to the school. This 
was, by the way, the general practice then, except when the 
teachers' homes were in the district; and then the Trustees 
paid a sum agreed upon in consideration of their boarding 
themselves. 

Novv when this young law-student boarded at my father's, 
there was from time to time some frolicking going on between 
him and my sisters; frequently this took the form of snow- 
balling, and sometimes there was considerable " cutting of 
capers " among them. Once, for instance, they had come to 
close quarters in a snow-ball contest, and one of the girls got a 
hard rubbing by the teacher's hands, with snow. Her hair was 



99 

pretty thoroughly disheveled, and her face very red and quite 
clean. As he was much the stronger, and took in this case 
the position w^hich some nations do, that "might makes right," 
my sister could not help herself. But she adopted a success- 
ful plan for getting even with this young limb of the law, as 
he discovered next morning, when, going to put on his boots 
he found them well covered, legs and all, with soft soap. 

This teacher, after leaving our school, continued his studies, 
and in due course of time was admitted to practice in our 
courts of law. Not being over-confident in himself, he opened 
an ofifice, at first, out in the country; but after practising there 
a few years ventured to come into the village, and formed a 
partnership with others. He continued to do a successful 
business; was elected to the State Legislature, and continued 
to rise in popularity, as a statesman, till, after many years 
of the highest success, he left the political arena. 

The last years of his life were quite retired, and when, 
finally, on the day of his funeral, I was present, amid a vast 
assembly, to take a farewell look at one of my school-teachers, 
I was beholding all that was mortal of Millard Fillmore, 
once President of the United States! 

Mr. Fillmore was the last of my school-teachers. I had 
passed the age of eighteen, and the time had come when I must 
be occupied winter and summer alike, in labor. Yet, in fact, 
even in boyhood, when attending school both summer and 
winter (from the time I was eight years old, when we moved 
into the Brick tavern in December, 1812), I had enough work 
to do, along with school occupations, to keep me busy. 
I worked about the house, attending to the fires in cold 
weather, and waiting upon travelers, officers, soldiers, and in- 
deed all customers when they called. And, in the proper 
season, through these and later days, I helped to plough, hoe, 
work at haying, milk cows, take care of, feed and shear sheep, 
attend to the lambs, feed and raise the calves, pull flax, — in- 
deed take part in all the different kinds of work to be done on 

LOfC. 



a farm. And so my pioneer school-days were all very busy ones. 
But yet they were not all school-days and work-days, without 
play, by any means. And now I shall say something about 

in.- — My Recreations. 

Of these I may say at once thp.t my chief ope was hvinting. 
For I might almost say I was always a hunter. 

It is true that along with our day schools, we had also 
from time to time in winter, our spelling-schools and our sing- 
|ng-schools, which, while helping to improve us, were also a 
means of recreation. Then there were apple-parings, in winter, 
also. And though we did not, in those times, have Thanks- 
giving days for family gatherings, pic-nics and Sunday-school 
excursions, and summer jaunts in different directions, yet the 
Fourth of July, election-days and training-days were always 
play-days for "us boys." And there was dancing, and there 
were balls. I, however, attended only one ball, and that was 
at the Eagle tavern, at the close of our dancing school, taught 
by a Mr. Jennings, for one winter, in or about 182 1. The 
only dancing I have ever done was what I did that winter, at 
that school. Among the recreations, however, which were 
also educational, was, at two different times, in my boyhood 
and youth, the Debating Society. Of this I find among my 
papers a little relic, being part of a rhymed argument upon 
one of the questions discussed. The disputants were: Mr. 
Mann, Caleb Gillett, Selden Lucas, Zerah Averill, William T. 
Miller, Milo Lucas, Benjamin Hodge and Yelorus Hodge. 
The question before the Society was: Which has been of the 
greatest benefit to mankind, the Printing Press or the Mag- 
netic Needle (Mariner's Compass)? After the arguments of a 
number on each side had been given, Mr. Qillett arose and 
presented his in, some expressive lines, of \yhich I once vvrot;e 
out from men^^ory the following: 

" What say you, boys, dp.es this not beat the de-il ? 
For paltry types \ye are to lo^e our needle ; 
And, after all this mighty fuss and rumpus, 
Ifor types and presses to give up our compass! 



Ye fair, we wish you 'd fairly think upon it, 

Nor change your Bible for a Leghorn bonnet; 

We wish you well, — and would be your protector, — 

So, be the North Star, Virtue, your director; 

Let Modesty supply the needle's place, 

And guide your steps to social love and peace. 

That, with straight eyes, our lands we can survey. 
And draw ' bee lines,' — this our opponents say; 
But, since we don't pretend that we are witches, 
'T were tedious draxving lines for our big ditches." 

It is interesting to note the reference here, to the "Leghorn 
bonnet " of those days, — the " height of the fashion," and an 
expensive luxury for the ladies; — and the then exciting and 
important subject of the surveys for the Erie canal, Gov. 
Clinton's " big ditch " as it was often called. 

But, as I have said, of my recreations the chief was always 
hunting. So the most of this paper is devoted to this subject. 
I can with truth say that there was no white person who ranged 
through the woods and over the ground around Buffalo and 
Black Rock, from 1 819 to about 1835, ™ore than myself. There 
were but few acres of the forest land in this immediate vicinity 
that I did not travel over very many times. To be in the 
woods with my gun was my delight, for there game was always 
to be found. Twelve years or so ago I wrote a paper giving 
an account of my early experiences in this line. As I hope to 
have some young readers, I will give it here, with some addi- 
tions, in a manner calculated to be interesting to them. It is 
entitled — 

The Young Hunter. — In very early childhood I began to 
be a hunter. The first gun I used was an elder pop-gun, 
with tow wads for ammunition. Children had not then the 
fine toy weapons for playing at hunting which now abound. 
Mine was not a very expensive one, but it was easily made, 
and answered my purpose as well as if its cost had been 
greater. With this gun I used to go around the house and 
shoot flies. This sport would not have added to the nice ap- 



pearance of the plastered and papered wall of the house if in 
those times there had been such a thing. But when I was a 
boy we had no plastered walls in our houses; the plastering 
was done only between the logs, outside and inside, — the inside 
being whitewashed every year. The next piece I used was 
what is usually called a cross-bow, or cross-gun. I need not 
describe it, as it is so well known among boys. This was quite 
aa instrument of warfare against birds and chipmucks. They 
suffered considerably at the hands of the boys ; yet the 
suffering was generally more through fright than any very 
serious harm. 

The third kind of weapon I used was a more formidable one 
for killing game; it was the Indian bow and arrow. If I had 
been an Indian, I might have been a greater hunter than I 
have been, and I might even have been a great warrior. I 
always liked the Indians and their ways and habits, that is, 
so far as hunting is concerned; and I used to love to be with 
them, shooting squirrels with bows and arrows in summer and 
fall, and playing with them with the snow-snake in winter. 
This is quite a lively game, peculiar to the Indians, and not 
much practiced by the white people. The Indians were active, 
and could endure fatigue in walking or running, and were 
always pleasant and honest in their playing. By the bow and 
arrow the birds and squirrels suffered most. I frequently 
killed chipmucks and sometimes birds. The Indians used to 
kill very many squirrels as well as birds with their bows and 
arrows. In shooting at birds I would always make the feathers 
fly. I once killed a woodchuck with a bow and arrow. It 
was a fair, open shot, at a distance of about four rods, and was 
effective and fatal. The arrow hit him on the side of his 
head, and he keeled over and sprawled out immediately, — 
dead. 

At this time I sometimes borrowed my uncle's shot-gun, 
which was of the sort called a " Chief's piece," from its having 
on the stock, back of the lock, a silver plate representing an 



I03 

Indian's head; but the fourth piece I regularly used was an old 
American musket. I say American, because there was quite 
a difference between American and British muskets. The 
bore of the latter carried an ounce ball, the former was of 
smaller bore, suiting us young hunters better because they re- 
quired less ammunition; and that was something important to 
be considered on account of our limited means of procuring 
powder and shot. 

And here I will tell how at one time I managed the matter 
of getting lead for use in making bullets, etc., for my firearms. 
This was during the War of 1812-15. Injune, 1812, the news 
had come of the declaration of war between Great Britain and 
the United States. I well remember the day when the news 
came, for I had been out that day with Samuel Ward Cotton 
to the home of his uncle Rowland Cotton, on The Plains, 
strawberrying with his cousin Lester W. Cotton. In Decem- 
ber we moved into the Brick Tavern, and occupied it one year, 
1813, when it was burned by our enemies. During this year 
it had become quite a chief object with me to accumulate lead 
for my hunting purposes. But we boys did not have much 
money to spend. Our playthings were few, and we had to 
look out and provide for ourselves the most of what we 
wanted for our amusements, especially in preparing for our 
hunting by making our own pop-guns, cross-guns and bows 
and arrows. When we had grown large enough to use guns 
that required powder and shot, we used to get the powder the 
best way we could, that is by earning money to buy it. But 
the shot we could not afford to buy; and, since we could, we 
did, manufacture them ourselves. This was what I did, and 
this was the way. As the war went on many soldiers were 
stationed here, and a large amount of powder and lead was 
brought here, and our soldiers, when off duty, fired their mus- 
kets at marks on stumps and trees. I chopped and dug the lead 
balls out of the places where they had lodged, and pounded 
them with a hammer on the head of an axe or on a flat-iron, into 



I04 

long square rods or bars, about the thickness of the size of the 
shot to be made, then with a knife I cut this leaden rod into 
square bits, and laying them on the floor or some hard board 
rolled them with the iron shovel into a round shape. In this 
way I made pretty good shot, but it cost some labor to do it. 
Indeed boys of that day had to work for everything they had. 
Now in the course of the year 1813 I had managed to accu- 
mulate quite a number of these little bars, which were some- 
thing of a treasure. But towards the close of the year I heard 
the people talking about the British coming over, and saying 
that we would have to go away. So, as I did not want to lose 
my little store of lead, I procured a small box, six or eight 
inches square, which had contained Venetian red lead, and 
had a sliding cover, into which I put my bars, and buried the 
whole in the garden. And, sure enough, when we did have to 
go away, at the time Buffalo was attacked and burned, that 
box and its contents remained safe; and I dug it up in the 
spring of 1814. 

Before I say more about hunting with guns, I will tell you a 
little about trapping. In the fall of 1814, one of my uncles 
had a quail-trap set in the wheat-stubble, to catch pigeons. 
I was commissioned to look after it; and when I found but a 
single pigeon in the trap, I was to take it out, set the trap 
again, and bring the pigeon home, alive. Towards evening, 
when I was going after the cows, I came to the trap and found 
one pigeon in it. I had begun to feel chilly, and even to 
shake with the cold. I put my hand into the hole in the top 
of the trap, and with much trouble got hold of the pigeon and 
took it out. Then I undertook to re-set the trap, but soon 
gave it up. It was very difficult for me even to hold the 
pigeon, I was shaking so hard with cold. I started on after 
the cows, but had not gone far before the pigeon got out of 
my hand and flew away. I drove the cows home, and was 
very glad to get into the house, I was so cold. When I was 
in, our folks, seeing me shaking so hard all over, said I had the 



I05 

ague; and it was true, though I had not known it. It was not, 
however, a strange thing; for in those early times of the set- 
tlement of Buffalo, there were many cases of fever-and-ague 
here. After the ague I had the fever; and the following day, 
just as the ague was again coming on, they gave me, accord- 
ing to the standard prescription of those days, the usual dose 
to "break the fits." This consisted of about half a gill of 
whiskey and gunpowder — suitable surely for a young hunter, 
I mean the gunpowder only — well stirred together. After 
taking this for a few days the ague-fits were "broken " and I 
was well again, without the necessity of my father's paying a 
large doctor's bill. So in this trapping exploit, I caught — a 
pigeon, which got away, and — the fever-and-ague which also 
took its flight under the treatment administered. 

But, later, I did have and use successfully a quail-trap of 
my own, and my steel fox-trap. With the latter I sometimes 
caught seven or eight red and cross-gray foxes during a winter 
and spring, besides any number of pole-cats or skunks, which 
I did not desire. Then we used also to catch raccoons, with 
our dogs, going out in the evening into the cornfields; and I 
have helped to catch " 'coons," not many rods from the spot 
on which I now reside. In some years immense numbers of 
pigeons flew over this region. I sometimes saw flocks so large 
and thick that they would hide the sun from sight like a dark, 
heavy cloud. Before and after 1820, many pigeons were 
caught about here in nets; selling, when plenty, for 12^ cents 
per dozen, — when scarce, for 25 cents. 

But, now, — to come again to my hunting experience with the 
weapons I have named, and others — I spent in this much of my 
leisure time, and very likely much time when I ought to have 
been at work. However this may be, when I got that old 
musket I used to hunt and kill squirrels, partridges, quail, 
blackbirds, pigeons, hawks, owls, ducks and many other kinds 
of game. In a year or two after, while I was still using this, 
my father bought me a smooth-bore straight-cut rifle, of a man 



io6 

who brought it from Pennsylvania. With this I thought myself 
well provided for shooting game. Not long afterwards, how- 
ever, I learned about the twisted-cut or spiral-bore pieces, and 
that these were much better; and I bought one of Mr. Sill, 
who was one of the first gunsmiths in Buffalo. With this I 
began to kill deer, as well as the smaller creatures. They 
were quite plenty here, in those days. I have killed in all say 
a baker's dozen of them, about half the number within the 
present limits of Buffalo city, several near my present resi- 
dence. I have seen them on our lot between Delaware and 
Main streets. Three crossed the road within a few rods of 
my father's house, in one winter. One morning I saw one 
standing in the field, near where our school-house No. i6 is 
located. 

I never assassinated a deer with a gun or the oar of a boat, 
after it had been chased and driven into the water by hounds, 
as is frequently done. I think it is unfair to kill deer when in 
the water, or when there is an icy crust on a deep snow. I al- 
ways shot deer running, standing, or lying down; and always 
in the woods, except in one instance, when I started a deer in 
an open chopping. He was running from me, rather quar- 
tering, and I drew up my rifle and shot, when he was sixteen or 
eighteen rods away. He made but one jump after the crack 
of the piece, and fell. 

But I ought to say that, after all, this hunting was not very 
profitable, since our market for game was limited, and prices 
were very low. Venison, for instance, could be bought of the 
Indians for sixpence (6-j cents) per pound, for the hams. 

One of my encounters with deer was, however, somewhat 
peculiar, and I will here give a description of it, as I wrote it 
out fifteen or eighteen years ago. I named it — 

My Deer Story. — In the winter of 1831-1832 we were 
chopping and hauling wood from the east part of farm-lot 
No. 30, about where Prospect street crosses between Best 
and North streets. At this time this lot was mostly cov- 



I07 

ered with timber. The old Cayuga road (now Best street) 
turned from where Jefferson street now crosses it, passing 
over the hill through the chestnut woods, and down to 
Main street near the old red tannery of Erastus Gilbert, 
or about opposite where Allen street comes into Main. 
Our "man," Patrick Roach, was chopping and splitting 
wood, and I, with our ox-team and sled, was hauling the 
wood to our brick-yard on Main street, near Utica. I had 
driven my oxen near to the place where Patrick was at 
work, and I left them standing in the road, and walked back 
into the woods four or five rods, to the spot where he was. 
S. K. Grosvenor's blood-hound had been " giving tongue " 
some time, east of us, and, as I could but faintly hear his 
voice, he must have been a long distance away. After stand- 
ing there a short time, I saw a wild deer coming up the sleigh- 
path, at a leaping gallop. His tongue protruded, and he 
showed every sign of being very much fatigued. I exclaimed 
to Patrick, "See! there is a deer coming!" He looked up 
with an expression of great surprise and wonder, and said 
" And sure there is; — and shall I stop him? " Of course, consid- 
ering his idea of stopping a wild deer on the run an absurdity, 
but willing to play a practical joke, as I supposed it would be, 
upon the Irishman, I said to him, "Yes, Patrick, run out and 
stop him." He dropped his axe, and ran very quickly through 
the bushes into the road. As soon as the deer saw him, sure 
enough he did stop, and stood still, about five rods from him, 
without moving a foot. I immediately walked out near to the 
place where Patrick was standing, the deer remaining perfectly 
quiet. I crossed the road into an open space of ground beyond 
-the man, and then walked till I was opposite to the deer, ex- 
pecting however, every moment, that he would leave us. It 
occurred to my mind after I had reached the latter position, 
that we had the creature as " the Paddy" would say, completely 
" surrounded." Very thick underbrush and woods were on his 
right; I, with my ox-whip, was on his left; Patrick was facing 



io8 

him in front; and the blood-hound, although still far off, was 
coming nearer from a hearing distance in his rear. Was 
there ever, it might well be asked, a wild deer more com- 
pletely "surrounded" than he? There Patrick and I had 
him all to ourselves, with no one to interfere or trouble us in 
securing the beautiful animal. All there was now left for us 
to do, was, it seemed, to take possession of this noble creature, 
either alive or dead, as should appear most practicable to us, all 
the circumstances considered. Patrick, on his side, stood his 
ground bravely, in glowing excitement, and, with true Irish 
enthusiasm, feeling perfectly sure that he would not let the 
creature pass him. We did not stop to talk the matter over, 
and arrange a plan of operations; but each one took the course 
he supposed was best in order to accomplish our wish to 
secure the deer. As, however, neither of us had a hunting 
weapon, — gun, pistol, spear, or lasso, — I, with my ox-whip in 
hand (which consisted of a good split hickory stock, about four 
feet in length, with a lash) began cautiously to approach the 
fellow. He meanwhile eyed me very sharply, as much as to 
say, "What are you going to do about it?" But as I slowly 
drew nearer, he began to lower his head, keeping his glisten- 
ing eyes steadily fixed on mine. The closer I came to him, 
the lower he bowed. But not knowing, of course, what the 
result of this encounter might be, within the next half-minute, 
I concluded that if he should let me come near enough, I 
would knock him on the head with the butt of my whip, which 
I still held by the handle. So, still keeping my eyes fixed on 
those of the deer, I changed ends of my whip, to be ready for 
this sort of an assault; and in the meantime kept moving 
slowly and very carefully towards him. Warily measuring the 
distance between us with my eye, when I had approached 
within the proper distance from which to give him a fair and 
sure death-blow on his bowed head, now lowered almost to the 
ground, I raised my whip-stock, and with my utmost dexterity, 
and a determined will, and with my full might and strength, I 



I09 

gave the decisive blow. The next moment, that noble and 
beautiful animal with his splendid and most graceful limbs, 
and his sleek head and body, which had stood before me, per- 
fect in all his parts, and in full possession of his wild, free 

forest-life, was stretched high in the air on a leap for life; 

and then was off, fleetly distancing his assailants. After all my 
determination, calculation and care, he had dodged my blow, 
and, as it seemed to me, was ten feet from the ground, on a 
bounding leap. This he followed up with a magnificent series, 
lofty, long and grand; so that he seemed rather to be flying 
than running from us. And he was out of sight in a very few 
moments. Patrick was as if spell-bound with amazement, 
seeming completely lost in wonder. Presently, recovering a 
little, he exclaimed, "And sure, we didn't get him! But 
wasn't he a darlint iv a deer! I niver saw the loike before in 
all me life!" 

The fugitive took a course directly south through the woods, 
towards the lake; with "the Hydraulics " and Pratt's ferry in 
range, on a line a little west of where Prospect street now runs. 
Soon after the deer and we had parted company so suddenly 
and, to us, so unexpectedly, but for him, so splendidly, the 
hound came along, on the deer's track. He moved with the 
long, loping gait, characteristic of the blood-hound, "giving 
tongue " every other leap he made. He paid not the slightest 
attention to us, being fully intent on overhauling the deer, and 
keeping his nose closely to his track. He was a little bothered 
when he passed the place where the deer had been standing, 
as it had there turned off on another course. But, making a 
circuit. He struck the trail again and on he went with the well- 
known energy and determination of his kind. We watched 
him till he was out of sight, and listened till he was out of 
hearing. I suppose he followed the fleeing creature to the 
lake, as that was the last and only effectual resource of the 
deer when chased by blood-hounds. 

I heard nothing of the lost animal after this. The hound 



was at his home the next day, however, all right, only some- 
what lamed and tired from his long chase. 

And so ends my story about the deer. I was thankful after- 
wards that I did not kill him ignobly, with the butt-end of my 
whipstock. 

I close these Reminiscences with a short paper on — 

Shooting-Matches. — When the regular twisted-cut rifles 
began to be used in Buffalo, the man who could hit a turkey 
off-hand at twenty rods, and not make the trial too expensive 
at sixpence a shot, was considered a great marksman. Stephen 
K. Grosvenor, Esq., Joseph Clary, Esq., and Frederick B. 
Merrill were the first and the only ones who tried it with 
reasonable success. There were others who would undertake 
it at a rest, at twenty-five rods, but most would make this quite 
too expensive sport and give it up. I did not at first shoot at 
turkeys, but practised with my rifle in shooting squirrels and 
other game, and besides this, shooting at a mark. I soon 
became quite expert with my rifle, and began to try the 
turkeys, off-hand, at twenty rods, with very good success. 
Others also so improved in marksmanship that owners would 
not put up turkeys for us at less than twenty-five rods distance, 
off-hand, and thirty rods, at rest. But I never would practice 
shooting on a rest, let the distance be what it might, but always 
shot off-hand. 

As time passed on, riflemen increased in numbers, and some 
became excellent shots, — so much so that the distance from 
which we had to shoot at the turkeys was made thirty-five rods 
off-hand, and forty at rest. 

I have shot many chickens at twenty-five rods distance, pay- 
ing three cents for each shot. I have also shot at a ring two 
inches in diameter at the distance of ten rods, paying sixpence 
a shot, and being entitled to fifty cents when I hit the ring. 
It requires a good marksman to do this with success. But I 
never found my equal with the rifle in my early days. 



About the year 1825 I joined the first uniformed Company 
we had in Buffalo, the "Rifle Company." While I was a 
member of this, a nice rifle was furnished by the officers, to be 
given to the one who made the best shot in the whole Com- 
pany, officers and all. To shoot for this rifle, we marched out 
of the village into an open lot which was situated about where 
North Pearl street enters Allen. There each of the riflemen 
had one shot at a mark painted on a board, at the distance of 
about ten rods, off-hand. Most of the Company had made 
their shots before I was called out, when I stepped forward, 
and cracked away; and when the mark was examined there 
was a shout, — for I had got in ahead of all the rest. 

At another subsequent time there were three powder-flasks 
furnished to be shot for. I won one of them, but gave it to the 
one who made the next best shot, as I had taken the rifle 
before. This, rifle I now have. I made it a present to my 
brother. Philander, and he used it; and when his son Augustus 
had grown up he gave it to him, and he used it a number of 
years, when he died; and a few years later my brother died, 
and subsequently his widow gave it back to me, — it having till 
then been out of ray hands forty years or more. 



EARLY RELIGIOUS SERVICES AND 
SUNDAY SCHOOLS. 

[See page i8, line 26.] 



I. — Religious Services. 

Although Mr. Hodge so late in life became a member of a 
church, he brought up his family in the way of attendance 
upon Christian worship and the use of such means of instruc- 
tion in religious things as the times afforded. In this paper I 



give therefore, some reminiscences concerning these matters. 

The first Religious Service which I remember to have at- 
tended, was one held in a hewn-log house on farm lot No. 33. 
I was then, I think, six or seven years of age; for it must have 
been in or shortly before the first year of the last war with 
England, — that is, in 181 1 or 1812. At this service there was 
preaching, and the scene made a lasting impression on my 
mind. I have never forgotten the effect that it produced 
upon me, for it made me at that early age feel that I wanted 
to be a Christian. 

At this period, as I remember well, I for the first time 
heard our district school teacher open the school with prayer. 
It was a new experience to hear the quiet voice of prayer in 
the place usually full of the disturbances caused by uneasy, 
stirring children. These prayers at the beginning of the school 
day also made on my mind a lasting impression, and their 
effect upon me, then, a seven-years-old, dark-haired, curly- 
headed boy, I now, a white-headed man of eighty years and 
more, recall distinctly. Though seventy-three years have 
passed I have never forgotten Mr. Eaton, — him who was our 
day-school teacher at that time. Most of those who attended 
that school then, have, I presume (like himself), long since 
passed away from the scenes of this life. I know of only one 
of them, besides myself, who is now living. I cannot with- 
hold the thought, how well it would be if, now-a-days, every 
school could be opened with prayer; and the pleasant memory 
of the exercise be carried down into later days! 

I remember well Rev. Glezen Fillmore's preaching in our 
log school-house in 1814. It was his custom to come around 
two or three times a year, on horseback; and at these times 
he always staid over night at my father's house. Elder Fill- 
more, it is well known, was the pioneer of Methodism in West- 
ern New York. 

In the early part of 1815, the war closed. Between that 
time and 1820, meetings for conference and prayer were held 



113 

at the Cold Spring tavern, which was kept by Stephen Frank- 
lin, a very active Christian man. 

Meanwhile, in 1816, the First Presbyterian Church, whose 
members had been scattered by the war, had been re-organized, 
and Rev. Miles P. Squier had, in the same year, become its 
pastor. The place for holding the church services was, I think, 
at first, a school-room on the " Kremlin Block," and after- 
wards the Court-house, and these were the places where we 
attended worship. I well remember the religious services 
which were held in the Court-house. The seats were mere 
rough boards, laid on saw-benches or something of that sort. 
The women and children sat together, on one side of the room, 
and the men on the other side. After a while some families 
who could afford it, provided themselves with nice painted 
seats of pine plank with backs to them; and then the members 
of each family would all sit together. In those times we had 
preaching morning and afternoon, and usually evenings too. 
Few families from our neighborhood, however, attended reg- 
ularly, — some not at all. And there were not many individ- 
uals among us who professed to be Christians. 

The principal leaders at the meetings which were held in 
our Cold Spring neighborhood, according to my recollection/ 
were Deacons Jabez Goodell, Amos Callender and, I think, 
Joseph Stocking, of the First Presbyterian Church; and it was 
seldom that we had preaching in the neighborhood. The 
practice came to be, after a while, to have some person come 
to preach or exhort, on Sunday, at the school-house, but 
without stated or regular preaching for any length of time. 
Thus it went on for many years. 

In 1830 or 1S31, Deacon Abner Bryant and myself "took 
turns " in bringing out and taking back from and to the village, 
those who would come to preach in our school-house on Sun- 
day evening. This we continued for a season or more. 
Among those who thus preached for us was Rev. James Rem- 
ington. He, at the commencement of his ministerial life, used 



114 

to come and hold service in our school-house quite frequently. 
Rev. James N. Granger, son of the late Judge Erastus Gran- 
ger, a member of the Baptist denomination, before he had 
finished his studies, held meetings there, also. His father's 
house was on the west side of Main street, just north of Con- 
jockety's creek. So also another young Baptist minister, Rev. 
Mr. Brown, preached for us a number of Sabbath evenings. 
He was very much liked by the people. Other young men 
who were yet in the midst of their studies for the ministry, 
came out from time to time, and held evening meetings 
with us. 

I remember, besides those I have named, another, a Meth- 
odist preacher, Rev. Orin Abbott. I recollect his own ac- 
count of his conversion. It was in the time of the War of 
1 812, while our army had possession of Fort Erie. He was a 
soldier in the army, and when at one time walking on his 
"beat" between the two hostile forces at the dead of night, 
under a clear sky, and with the stars shining brightly above 
him, he became engaged in thinking of God, and his almighty 
power, and of his own nothingness in the sight of God. Thus 
contemplating, he received into his mind and heart that light, 
and new comprehension of truth, which he believed to be a 
"change of heart;" and then and there he became a con- 
verted man. 

n. — Sunday-Schools. 

I became a scholar in the first Sunday-School which was 
established in the Town of Buffalo, very soon, as I am quite 
sure, after it was commenced; and this was at least as early as 
the spring of 1817. I do not find any records showing posi- 
tively that this was the time at which the school was started; 
but it was that of the First Presbyterian Church, and the 
yearly anniversary meeting of that school is held in May. 
And, although Dr. Walter Clarke in his " Historical Dis- 
course " and Elder Farnham in his paper on " The First Pres- 
byterian Church," give the date of 1816 for the organization 



"5 

of this school, the published Manuals of the Church give 1817 
as the date, which is doubtless the true one. 

This school at first contained not more than a dozen schol- 
ars, but the number soon increased. And it might appear 
that other schools were very soon established, for, on the sixth 
of August, 1817, the "Buffalo Sunday-school Society" 
was formed. I copy a notice of the meeting at which this 
Society was organized, from the Buffalo Gazette of August 12, 
1817, as follows: 

"At a meeting of a number of the inhabitants of the village 
on Friday last, an Association was formed denominated 'The 
Buffalo Sunday-school Society,' and the following gentlemen 
(were) elected to manage the concern the ensuing year: 

Isaac Kibbe, President. 

Heman B. Potter, . . . Vice President. 

Eleazer Aspinwall, . . Treasurer. 

Jasper Corning, .... Secretary. 

Amos Callender, Joseph Stocking, Samuel Bosworth, 

Nathaniel Sill, Elijah Holt, Asa Rice, 

H. M. Campbell, Committee." 

Yet, it may have been that this Society was formed for the 
purpose of Sunday-school extension, when as yet only one 
school was in operation, — especially as the officers appear to 
have been chiefly, if not wholly, members of the First Church 
congregation. This view is favored by the fact that the name 
appears to have been within four years changed to " The 
Buffalo Sabbath-school Union Society," which is indicated in 
the following notice cut from an old Buffalo paper, the date 
being August 7, 182 1: 

"The fourth anniversary of the Buffalo Sabbath-school 
Union Society was held at the Court-house, yesterday. At 
2 o'clock, P. M., scholars and teachers to the number of nearly 
two hundred assembled at the District School-house, and went 
in procession to the Court-house. The public exercises were 



ii6 

opened with an appropriate hymn, and prayer by the Rev. M. 
P. Squier. The report of the Board of Managers for the last 
year was read. On motion of J. B. Hyde, accompanied with 
some suitable remarks, seconded by Rev. M. P. Squier : 
Resolved, that the report of -the Board of Managers be ac- 
cepted. On motion of Mr. Squier, attended with an appro- 
priate address, and seconded by Mr. Jabez Goodell: Resolved, 
that the thanks of this Society be tendered to the superintend- 
ent and teachers of the various schools for their persevering 
labors the past year. 

The public exercises were closed Avith a prayer by Mr. 
Hyde, after which the Society proceeded to the election of the 
following Board of Officers for the ensuing year: 

Joseph Stocking, . . . President. 

H. B. Potter, .... Vice President. 

Abner Bryant, .... Treasurer. 

Asa Rice, Secretary. 

Rev. Miles P. Squier, Jabez Goodell, Peter West, 
Elijah D. Efner, Samuel Bosworth, Hiram Pratt, 
Benjamin Hodge, Jr., Managers." 

The "various schools" which are referred to in this report, 
might seem to have been different denominational schools ; 
but the officers of the Union Society appear still to have been 
almost or quite all from the First Church. At any rate it is 
true that when Sunday-schools were first established in Buf- 
falo, they were approved of by all Orthodox Christians, and 
nearly all who were not professors of religion. Some few 
parents ther^ were, however, who did not approve of them, 
and therefore would not let their children attend. 

As I have said, I was a member of the First Church Sunday- 
school almost from its commencement. Its place of meeting 
was at first a one-and-a-half story wooden building near the 
center of the "Kremlin Block," Main street, between Eagle 
and Niagara. I think that a day-school was also kept in this 



117 

building, probably the district school; and that the church 
services were at that time held there also. The Sunday-school 
was called by us boys " Mr. Coming's Sunday-school." This 
was for the reason that he, Mr. Jasper Corning, was the 
Superintendent; and it was especially appropriate, because he 
was in fact the former of it. Miss Abigail Kibbe (whom 
Mr. Corning subsequently married) and Miss Mary Martin, 
were teachers with him, from the commencement. Miss 
Kibbe and Mr. Corning had joined the First Church, she by 
letter, he on profession of faith, the same day, — April 4, 1816. 
Miss Martin was a si's/er of a Mrs. Larned whose name is 
erroneously given in the Historical notices of the First Church 
published in its Manuals, as one of the organizers and first 
teachers of its Sunday-school. It is distinctly remembered by 
a lady now living, Miss Mary Cotton, that Miss Martin, and 
not Mrs. Larned, was the teacher with Miss Kibbe; and that 
her sister, Marcia A. Cotton, and Sarah Remington, sister of 
Reverends David and James Remington, were in Miss Mar- 
tin's class. 

Mr. Corning was then a young man in business here as clerk, 
or as part owner, in (if I am not mistaken) Mr. Cunningham's 
dry-goods store; a dry-goods store of ^/lose days, I may observe, 
however, which contained many other articles than dry-goods. 

When the Church meetings began to be held in the Court- 
house, the Sunday-school also met there, between the morning 
and afternoon services. 

I do not remember, positively, that any scholars from our 
neighborhood went with me to that Sunday-school at the be- 
ginning; but I think that one or two other boys did do so: and 
I remember only Charles C. Haddock and Munson Landon, 
who lived in the village, as attending at that time. From 
information, I can give only the names of Marcia A. Cotton 
and Sarah Remington, already mentioned. I know that Orsa- 
mus H. Marshall was in the school, but not till a few years 
after the commencement. I am not sure whether at this time 



ii8 

the school was held before the morning service or immediately 
after it. But when the church services began to be attended 
at the Court-house, the school was also held there, and then 
met between the forenoon and afternoon services. 

The custom was for the school to be opened by the Super- 
intendent with the reading of a portion of Scripture, and a 
prayer. I do not remember that there was any singing at first, 
though there may have been, and it is certain that there was 
sirtging after a while. Deacon Abner Bryant used to bring his 
children, as soon as they were old enough, to the Sunday- 
school. His sons, Isaac, Henry and Abner, and his daughters, 
Maria and Lucy, all became scholars, and afterwards teachers. 
And Henry, when grown up, led the school in singing, for a 
time; — and so we used to have, if not the very best, some 
pretty loud singing. The older scholars were required to learn 
and recite about six verses from the New Testament. My 
first lesson was from the second chapter of Matthew, begin- 
ning with, ',' Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem." The 
younger scholars were required to learn one verse, or more, if 
they could, from some little hymn, or one verse of Scripture. 
After the recitation the Superintendent explained the lesson, 
and talked to the scholars. There were no libraries of Sunday- 
school books, nor Sunday-school papers, for the children of 
those days to read; nor were there any such things here until 
many years after the school was organized. There were no 
Sunday-school picnics, either, to attract children to the school, 
or give them a pleasant variety now and then. There was in 
fact nothing provided to give to the scholars by way of in- 
ducements to be present, except now and then, though very 
seldom, a few tracts (at first, I am positive, — not even these), 
and occasionally, by way of reward, a Bible. These, like 
other books, were scarce and not easily procured. But, in 
1816 The American Bible Society was formed, in the city 
of New York, and in September of that year The Buffalo 
Female Bible Society (Auxiliary) was established here. The 



119 

main object of this was to furnish a complete copy of the 
Bible at a low, cash price, so that every family, even every in- 
dividual, might possess one. By paying fifty cents into the 
Society's treasury, a person could become a member, and re- 
ceive a Bible. I remember how an Englishman, James Brom- 
ley, who was working for my father at this time, felt quite de- 
lighted to belong to a Bible Society, though he was not a relig- 
ious man. So he paid his fifty cents, and received his new 
Bible. Being uneducated, however, he could hardly read a 
word. He had left England in the capacity of servant to an 
English officer, in the War of 1812, but had deserted and come 
across Niagara river to Buffalo. With this Bible he made 
considerable progress in learning to read. 

Now, as a reward for learning and reciting a certain number 
of Scripture verses a new Bible was sometimes promised and 
given. In that way I remember to have received one. This 
arrangement made it comparatively easy to procure Bibles for 
presents, and carry out this plan for inducing the children to 
commit the Word of God to memory. An incident connected 
with this matter of learning and reciting verses, was given me 
by the late Henry H. Hawkins, Esq., of Silver Creek (son of 
Whipple Hawkins whom I have already had occasion to 
mention) who was a scholar in the First Church Sunday-school 
when it was meeting in the Court-house. Mr. Hawkins re- 
membered that the sessions were held in a room on the south 
side of the hall in the Old Court-house building; — he thought 
the Grand Jury room. He remembered, also. Rev. Mr. Squier, 
the minister. Deacon Goodell, Deacon Stocking and Deacon 
Callender, as some of the teachers. And he remembered that 
on first entering the school a lesson was given him in the New 
Testament, to learn. But he did not understand that he was 
to learn only a small given number of verses, — so he learned 
and recited the whole chapter. After he had finished the 
recitation Mr. Squier patted him on the head, and said, " My 
little son, you have done nobly and well, in getting the whole 



chapter by heart, but you need not learn so much in future; 
you may learn six verses only." 

No doubt the Sunday-school Society, too, with its anniver- 
sary exercises and processions, had a good effect in making 
the idea of the Sunday-school a pleasant one, in a time when 
means of enjoyment of a public character were few. It is to 
be feared that the children of to-day do not appreciate their 
advantages and privileges as they would if, for even a very 
little while, they should be situated as the children were in the 
days of which I am writing. It is to be regretted that no 
records were kept in the early days of this school of any of its 
proceedings; and that so many of the facts concerning it can 
only be gathered up, in fragments, from the memory of the 
few who knew anything of those days gone by. 

A Sunday-school was commenced in our neighborhood 
(Cold Spring), after the organization of the Buffalo Sunday- 
school Society, though probably not till the spring or summer 
of 1818. This school was started in our little log school- 
house, which I have already mentioned, and which stood on 
the grounds occupied by Police Station number six; or, to 
be more particular, on the west side of Main street, at the 
northeast corner of farm lot No. 58. The male teachers were 
David Remington and Benjamin Hodge, Jr.; and, some of the 
time, Adams Holt, from " The Plains." The female teachers 
were Miss Sarah Remington, Miss Sarah Hodge, Mrs. Daniel 
Lewis, and, I think, her daughter. Miss Calista Lewis, and 
Miss Mary Cotton. Others become teachers from year to 
year, whose names I cannot at this late day bring to mind. 
I can state it as a fact that the ranks of the teachers were 
mainly filled by the scholars of the school as they grew up, and 
became able to assume the responsibility. From the begin- 
ning and till 1829, Benjamin Hodge, Jr., was the Superinten- 
dent, and of him it is only just to say here, that during the 
thirty-two years that this school existed, he was absent but a 
very few times, I believe never unless on account of sickness. 



There were even times when he was the only teacher present. 
In 1829, Deacon Abner Bryant, having moved from the village 
into our neighborhood, took charge of the school as Superin- 
tendent. The scholars whom I can mention as among the 
first in attendance at this school were William A. Remington, 
William Hodge, Jr., Sophia Hodge, Mary A. B. Hodge, Sam- 
uel Ward Cotton, Henry H. Hawkins and his sister, John 
Munger, Maria Granger, Beulah Granger, Edward Granger, 
Charles Wilber, Lucy Wilber and George Wilber. I presume 
that there were some from other families, such as Jacob Morri- 
son's and Stephen Franklin's. After Mr. Bryant became 
Superintendent, in 1829, Benjamin Hodge, Jr., continued as 
principal teacher. David Remington and Adams Holt had 
removed from the place some years before. Of myself I can 
say that I was a constant attendant, from the beginning, first 
as a scholar, then as a teacher, until the school was united 
with that of the present Westminster Church, in 1850. And 
I think I have attended Sunday-school as scholar and teacher 
in Buffalo longer than any other person now living here. It 
is sixty-eight years since I entered the first one, and I have 
been in the Sunday-school most of the time since. 

The Cold Spring school was held immediately after we had 
returned home from the afternoon service in the village. It 
was kept up every year through the warm weather, in the school- 
house, commencing in the spring, as early as we ceased to need 
fires; continuing until the weather became too cold in the fall; 
and even through a few of the winters it was also continued, 
Benjamin Hodge, Jr., having it meet in a room in his own 
house. But the attendance was small in the winter season, as 
the weather was too cold, and the walking was bad, there 
being no sidewalks. 

In 1850, this school, the second started in Western New 
York, was merged in the one which was the beginning of 
Westminster Presbyterian Church. The united schools met 
in the little brick Chapel which stood where the edifice of 
Westminster Church now stands. 



R.— SCHOOL-HOUSES AND TEACHERS. 



Cold Spring District, (No. 2.) 

I here add to the account given at pages 94-100, of my 
schools and teachers, a full list, from my own remembrance 
and from information which I have collected, of the teachers 
of School No. 2 (3 and 16) — or the " Cold Spring District," 
to the year 1846. The first name to record is that of a Mr. 
Sturgeon, who taught in the log school-house mentioned at 
page 94, which stood on farm-lot No. 33, about opposite where 
Bryant street enters Main. This was previous to 1809. His 
successor was Dr. Abram Tourtelot, who took the school in 
1809. He was a pioneer resident here, well educated for his 
profession; but, as was often necessary in those days, to pro- 
cure means of support, added to his practice the honorable 
vocation of a school-teacher. I do not know whence he came; 
but doubtless, like all the teachers of that day who were not 
natives here, he originated " down east." I do not remember 
him as my teacher, but I know from the statements of my 
uncle, Benjamin Hodge, Jr., that I attended his school when 
I was but five years of age. My uncle has told me that the 
boys then had to pick up armfuls of small wood and sticks, to 
make and keep the school fire. 

My aunt. Miss Sabrina Abbott, was the next teacher, in i8io, 
in a log house standing four or five rods from the road, opposite 
the Cold Spring, where Ferry street now is. The ground 
there was low and flat, and often the way from the road to the 
house was very wet, and logs having the upper side hewn flat, 
were laid over this space to walk on. Miss Abbott came from 
Richfield, N. Y., in 1807 or -8, living with her sister, my 
mother. She was married in 181 1, to Ebenezer Howes, and 
was left a widow the next year, — continuing then in my 
father's family for twenty years or more, till her son had grown 



123 

to manhood. They then went to Monroe, Mich., where he 
opened a store, and soon after married. He continued eight 
or ten years in mercantile business. But his wife, and a few 
years later he himself, died; and his mother closed up his 
business and came back to Buffalo, making her home again in 
my father's family till after the death of my father and 
mother in 1848 and i868, respectively. She died in 1876, aged 
eighty-seven years; -being the last survivor of the ten children, 
five sons and five d.iughters, of my grandfather, Daniel Abbott. 

The next school-house to be mentioned, is a log one on lot 
39, about where Puffer street enters the east .side of Main, 
which stood ten or fifteen rods from the road, and to which I 
have already twice referred. I remember going and coming 
as a scholar there, and having, in a wet lime, to climb along 
a rail fence on my way to and from school, — walking on the 
big logs which lay at the bottom. 

In 181 1 the teacher there was Miss Hull. I am ([uite sure 
she was a resident of the town, if not the neighborhood. My 
uncles, Benjamin Hodge, Jr., and Velorus Hodge, were among 
the scholars there. Next I remember attending a school kept 
in a double log house on lot 30, already mentioned, about 
where St. Paul street is located. A family named Seaver lived 
in the north room, the school occupying the south end of the 
building. I think that this was in 181 i or -12, but I do not 
remember the teacher's name. 

I do not know when our school district was organized; but 
the first school I remember as being kept on the "old scl"\ool- 
house lot," now occupied by Police Station No. 6, at the 
northeast corner of farm lot No. 58, was then under the care 
of Mr. Eaton (to whom I have referred at page 112), in the 
year 1812. I think that the school district was organized at 
about this time. 

In the summer of 1813 Miss Polly Lay was the teacher 
here, about whom I remember little except the name. 

William Cogswell taught this school in the winter of 181 2- 



124 

13- 1 remember him very distinctly as a middle-aged man, and 
a good teacher, who governed his scholars well, and was 
greatly liked by them. I know nothing of his history. The 
next summer, 1813, our teacher was Miss Jewett, concerning 
whom I can give no information. 

I am quite sure that in the winter of 1813-14, in the war- 
time, and after Buffalo was burned, no school was maintained 
here. Of perhaps twelve families which returned that winter, 
only two, I think, were from our neighborhood, — those of 
Major Frederick Miller and William Hodge, Sen. 

Before continuing my list of teachers I will here give an 
account of tlie purchase of a school lot, and some general 
facts as to the school-house, and the school life of those days. 

After the organization of our school district, the trustees, in 
1814 or -15, purchased a school-house lot. The District, as 
first organized, included lot No. 50, commonly called the 
" Walden Hill " farm lot. Beginning in the easterly line of 
the "Mile Strip," at the southwest corner of that lot, the 
south line then ran east to Main street, then north to the 
center of the present High street, which it followed till it 
struck the farm lot next to, and east of, Jefferson street ; 
thence south, so as to include this lot ; thence east to the 
line running north and south between the lots of ranges 8 
and 7. now the line of Moselle street ; thence north on that 
line till it struck the " Chapin road ;" thence west on the 
dividing line between the Chapin and Granger farms, as far 
as the " Mile Strip," and thence south on the easterly line of 
the " Mile Strip " to the southwest corner of the Walden farm, 
the place of beginning. 

At that time there was but one family in the District, on the 
Cayuga road, now Best street, — that of Robert Reynolds, liv- 
ing on the south side of the junction of what are now Best and 
Genesee streets. The latter was then laid out only west of 
Main street; East Genesee street being opened, I think, be- 
tween 1825 and 1830. There were but two families on what 



125 

was then the " Adams " road (now discontinued), — those of 
Joseph Adams and William Long. On the " Chapin " road, 
south side, was Roswell Hosford (his place having afterwards 
been the Longnecker farm and being now Prof. West's); and 
there were no more families in the district except those on the 
Main road from "Flint Hill" to " Walden Hill." 

For a school lot, the Trustees took a bond or contract of 
Daniel Lewis, dated November i8, 1816, to deed, from lot 58, 
a piece sixty feet square, " beginning eighteen rods from a 
certain road laid to Black Rock " (now Utica street); the deed 
to be executed on or before May 14, 1821; and the price 
being one hundred and twenty dollars. December 13, 1818, 
Oilman Folsom assumed this obligation; and in 1823 Selden 
Davis took it, with this change; — he was to deed a piece of land 
on the northeast corner of the same lot, 58, sixty feet deep, 
the front measure not being given; but the understanding was, 
I remember, that the piece was to be larger than the one first 
agreed upon, in consideration of its being taken from the 
lower corner instead of from the center of the farm lot. On 
this corner, then, it was, that the small log house stood, in 
which our district school had for several years been already 
kept, and which was large enough for our needs in those 
times. And here, after it was burned, as I shall presently re- 
late, the new " plank " school-house to be soon described, 
was built. In summer there were then from fifteen to twenty 
scholars; in winter, more, — the " grown-up " boys and girls 
then having time to attend. This school-house was about 18 
by 24 feet in size, with three windows of 7x9 glass. The floor 
was of wide boards, broad enough, at least, to admit of a good 
deal of shrinking; and not being matched, the cracks between 
them became quite large, and many of the boards were loose. 
Free circulation was thus given for wind which blew in un- 
derneath. As for the side walls, to put the house in condi- 
tion for winter, mortar was used to make the " chinking" be- 
tween the logs all tight, where it had been dug out by the mis- 



126 

chievous scholars. Overhead were tlie round, naked beams 
which supported the roof-boards, there being no chamber- 
room. In the fire-j^lace, which was without "jambs," we 
could burn wood of any length up to eight feet. The writing- 
desk was a board set lengthwise along the wall, slanting down- 
wards towards the center of the room, the upper edge being 
fastened to the logs. The seats running in front of and paral- 
lel with this, were pine slabs with legs set in, and without 
backs; — a second (or front) row of lower seats being added to 
accommodate the smaller children. 

The front door, the only door in the building, had a great, 
old-fashioned lock, set in a block of wood, and fastened to the 
door on the inside, with large screws. It was furnished with 
a big iron key which, each day at the closing of the school, in 
winter-time, was given to one of the large boys, who " took 
their turns" in making the fires in the morning. The teach- 
er's "stand" was a little one, having a small drawer with a 
lock and key, for "valuables." These private premises some- 
times, however, suffered depredations at the scholars' hands, 
when tlie key was lost. 

An important part of school-keeping, in those days, was the 
administration oi punishment. The rod and ferule were freely 
used; some teachers preferring one, and some the other. 
I often saw the green " birch " rod applied pretty severely to 
the backs and shoulders of boys, when quite a sensation would 
be made among the scholars. My own punishments, I am glad 
to say, were limited to a taj) or two of the ferule, on a single 
occasion, which hurt nothing except my "feelings." Some- 
times, when the whip was not at hand, or was too dry, a large 
boy was sent out to cut and bring in some birch rods. The 
teacher, selecting a couple, ran them into the hot ashes, under 
the "forestick," in order to make them more pliable and 
tough; then, requiring the boy to take off his coat, gave him 
several "cuts" with the green rod over his shoulders and 
back, which frequently brought him to the floor, and forced 



127 

him to beg for mercy. The marks of these blows would be 
visible for some days. Few, however, seemed to require this, 
I think, most unreasonable and unwise treatment. 

Other modes of punishment were practiced (not always fully 
effectual) as for instance, in the case of a certain couple of 
offending lads, six or seven years of age. To punish the one 
most guilty, a loose floor-board was raised, and he was put 
down through the opening. On the board the other lad was re- 
quired to stand, and there to remain until the under one was 
thought to be sufficiently punished. The upper boy was then 
sent to his seat, the board raised, and the little rogue under- 
neath called to, to " come out," — but no boy appeared, or an- 
swered. The culprit had been too " sharp " for that teacher, 
having, soon after he was imprisoned, crawled out and scam- 
pered home. This boy, I may add, was he who afterwards be- 
came Hon. Henry H. Hawkins of Silver Creek, N. Y., the 
other was my own younger brother, Philander, — both now de- 
ceased. 

I here resume my notices of the teachers of our District 
school. After the War, in the winters of 1815-16 and 1816- 
17, Henry Lovejoy was our teacher. He had kept the school, 
also (if any one had, which is doubtful), in the summer of 1815. 
Henry Lovejoy's mother, it was (the widow of Joshua Love- 
joy), who, in the burning of Buffalo, had been killed by the 
Indians, in her own house, her body being burned with it. 
The son gathered her charred bones together, and brought 
them, wrapped in a newspaper, to my father's house. 

By application to study he had acquired as good a "com- 
mon school education " as the times would allow, and turned 
his attention to the art of surveying, in which he became 
proficient. He continued its practice, as his business, in Buf- 
falo, to the end of his long life. No man knew better than 
he, the original boundaries of our city lots, and of the farms 
adjoining. Indeed, in later years, in cases where the old 
land-marks were not to be found, he would sometimes trust 



128 

too much to his own knowledge, to satisfy some, for, standing 
at a corner, and " sighting " in different directions with his 
eye, he would strike his hickory compass-staff into the ground, 
saying, "That is near enough for all practical purposes." 

In the winter of 1816-17, the teacher was Mr. Fuller. 
I remember him well, as a good teacher whom the scholars 
liked; but I can give no further account of him. The next 
winter, 1817-18, William Godfrey, a man in middle life, 
kept our school. Like his predecessor, he was a good teacher. 
He probably came to us from "down east." 

About the middle of May, iSiS, David Remington took 
the school, and taught it one quarter. His "pay" was by 
agreement with the trustees, thirty dollars for the term, and 
besides, one dollar and fifty cents per week, for thirteen weeks, 
as allowance in consideration of his "boarding himself." 
I can give the names of the heads of families whose children 
during this quarter attended our school. They are as fol- 
lows: David Hennion, Charles H. Averill, Shadrach Remington 
(father of the teacher), Daniel Lewis, William Hodge, Sacket 
Dodge, Mrs. Balch, Alvan Dodge, Stephen Patch, Stephen 
Allen, John McCollister, David Reese, Lyman Persons, 
Joseph Adams, Zerah Averill, Daniel Wilber, Seth Granger. 
The school-bill bears date July 15, 1818, and is in the hand- 
writing of Mr. Remington, who was a beautiful penman. 

Mr. Remington's mother was a sister of Erastus Granger, 
Seth Granger and Mrs. Oliver Forward. He married Miss 
Esther Low, and with her for several years did missionary 
work among the Indians. 

Benjamin Hodge, Jr., who came from Otsego county 
with his father in 1806, became our teacher in 181 9. He had 
several years before " graduated " at the first district school 
here organized, thus " finishing his education." He was 
elected clerk of the district at its organization, and held the 
office about twenty-five years, — being re-elected annually, 
until the district came under the laws of the City Corporation. 



129 

He continued to reside here, and held several offices, civil 
and military. His death occurred June 8, 1868, when he was 
seventy-one years of age. 

In 1820 Calvin Ely taught our winter school. He was a 
young man, well qualified for the work. His father, a retired 
Congregational minister, moved from Connecticut and settled 
in this town in 1818, residing on Niagara street, near Prospect 
Hill. His family consisted of his wife, five sons and four 
daughters, all of whom had received a good education, supe- 
rior, indeed, to that of most of the families in our vicinity. 
All these sons and daughters became teachers in our district 
or public schools; some of them continuing such for several 
years. The youngest daughter taught the school which was 
maintained in connection with the county poor-house, then 
situated at the junction of North and York streets; contract- 
ing, in this occupation, the disease of which she died. 

The family subsequently removed to that part of the town 
of Amherst, which has since taken the name of Cheektowaga. 
The only survivors are Sterling, residing in the city, and 
Selden, at Cheektowaga. Calvin died about eight years ago. 
Most of the sons have held town or county offices, Selden 
having been at one time superintendent of the city schools. 

Of our next teacher through the year 1821 and the winter 
and spring of 1822, Lot Stoddard, I have written at length in 
an article given above, at pages 94-97; but I here add, that 
wliile Mr. Stoddard was teacher in the latter part of the win- 
ter of 1821-22, an event occurred long to be remembered by 
those then attending the school, — namely, the destruction of 
our log school-house by fire. In ordinarily cold winter 
weather, it was impossible to keep the school-room comforta- 
ble. Most of the time, in school-hours, there would be a 
number of the scholars standing around the great log fire, to 
warm themselves; the teacher letting them "take turns," six 
or eight at a time. After a succession of cold days, and of 
not very good fires, the large boys took turns at making the 



13° 

fire in the morning (the older girls taking their turns at noon 
in sweeping the school-room floor). We had no cover for our 
wood; — a wood-shed or any shelter for wood was never thought 
of, for a school-house, and such a thing was hardly known to 
exist in the town. So, sometimes, when the fire refused to 
burn well, one of the larger boys was sent out with an axe, to 
make a raid on a dry fence-rail, cut it up, and split it fine 
enough to start up the lazy, smoking fire. But one cold after- 
noon, before school was dismissed, Asahel Bill, one of the 
oldest scholars, was directed to make the fire next morning, 
and was cautioned by the teacher to make a "good one." In 
reply he said he would, adding, that he would make " <z 
snorter.''' And he did, and a " roarer," too. He came early 
in the morning, before breakfast, and made the fire, and when 
we came " to school," our old, cold, dusty and dirty school- 
house was in flames, and past saving. But Mr. Stoddard was 
sufficient for any emergency. So, the south end of the double 
log-house, on the Granger lot. No. 59, now Spring Abbey, was 
secured, and after one or two days spent by the teacher and 
some of the larger boys in fitting it up, the school went on as 
usual through the winter and spring. 

But another school-house was to be built, and William T. 
Miller, Alvan Dodge and William Hodge, Sen., trustees, taking 
the matter in hand, made preparations for building; and our ox- 
team was brought into requisition to haul logs to Granger's 
saw-mill to be made into lumber for the purpose, the writer 
driving the team. 

Meanwhile, in the summer of 1822, our school was taught 
by Miss Mary Stanley Cotton, who came into this neighbor- 
hood with her father's family, from Massachusetts, in 181 1. 
The family consisted of Mr. and Mrs. Cotton, three sons and 
three daughters; but of them all Miss Mary only, whom I have 
mentioned, is now living. Mrs. Cotton was left a widow in 
1812. She did not marry again, and none of the children were 
ever married. Miss Cotton was a well educated young lady, 



131 

and a good teacher; and this was not the only time in which 
she was employed in our summer school. 

We hurried forward the building of the new school-house, 
which was what is termed a plank-house, clap-boarded. In 
this we had, when finished, a box stove instead of a fire-place. 
So much was done by way of improvement for the comfort of 
smaller scholars, that board backs were made for their seats, 
while the older scholars had at least the comfort of resting 
their backs sometimes against the edge of their writing board. 

The school-house was finishQcl, and the winter of 1822-23 
had come. Of our teacher that winter, Millard Fillmore, I 
have already written at length, pages 97-99, and need add 
nothing further here, only repeating what I have before said, 
that this term completed my own school-days. 

In the spring of 1823, Mr. Fillmore having finished his term 
as school-teacher, a supply was needed. Schoolmasters were 
not " abroad " in such plenty, then, that it was always easy to 
get one when required. In such cases a teacher was procured 
from our own neighborhood, and in this instance Benjamin 
Hodge, Jr., was again called to serve. 

In the winter of 1823 -24 Mr. L. Fiske became the teacher 
of our. district school. He was an Englishman, a man who 
moved about the world "to see what he could see." He was 
lame, and had a crippled hand. I believe he taught well, but 
have no special recollection of him. 

In the summer of the year 1824, Miss Sarah Remington, a 
sister of David Remington, was the teacher. She was a very 
modest, ladylike girl, and was called to this station more than 
once. 

It appears that a Mr. Griffin taught here in the winter of 
1824-25. I have no further information concerning him. 

The summer-school this year was taught by Miss Marcia 
Abba Cotton, a young sister of Mary S. Cotton, living in the 
district. She was a perfect lady and good teacher. She con- 
tinued teaching in different districts quite a length of time. 



132 

and SLibsecjuently taught a private school many years, until her 
death, which was occasioned by fatigue, and a severe cold, 
which settled on her lungs. 

In 1825-26 Charles Taintor taught our school, " boarding 
'round." He was a well-educated young man, and taught 
well. He subsequently married Miss Catharine Musier, and 
was one of the first settlers on Delaware street, above North. 
Their children were six in number, of whom four were within 
a few years, and I think still are, living; one in China in the 
employ of the government of that country, the other three 
brothers in New York City. All were most enterprising 
young men. 

In the summer of 1826, Miss Mary S. Cotton again taught 
our district school. The male teachers in 1827 and 1828 were 
Ai Barney and A. N. Fillmore. I am not sure but that both 
were law students, and formerly from Clarence in this county. 
The lady teachers in these two years were Mrs. Clarissa Ayles- 
worth, a daughter of Benjamin Hodge, Sen., and Miss Sarah 
Remington, already mentioned. 

For the winter of 1828-29 Philander Hodge, a son of Wil- 
liam Hodge, Sen., had been engaged as our teacher. He had 
been in school at Hartwick, N. Y., for several terms, and after 
finishing his studies there, returned home and accepted an en- 
gagement from our school trustees. After teaching the school 
several weeks, however, he gave it up, to take a position, which 
he had for some time desired to obtain, in a broker's or ex- 
change office, in the village, aud the school was for several 
days without a teacher. At the urgent request of William T. 
Miller, William Hodge, Jr., an elder brother of Philander, 
took the position, to hold it for a few days, till a regular 
teacher could be obtained. He did so, and the result was that 
he continued in that work during the winter and spring. His 
ability for teaching was not of course great, his early educa- 
tion having been in " log colleges " and his graduation from the 
little plank school-house so lately built; audit should be added, 



^33 

his associations having been close all his life thus far, with the 
native inhabitants of the country, the Seneca Indians. However, 
his application to study had thus been very "c/ose" — being con- 
finedXo little log houses, and three or four months in the year. 
This teacher boarded at home, in his father's family, and if 
his scholars improved in studies, that winter, as much as the 
teacher did, which, I think, was the case, they could have had 
no reason to complain. 

In the summer of 1829, Mrs. Sabrina Howes (who, as Miss 
Sabrina Abbott, had taught the school in 1810) again became 
the teacher. I need only refer here to my notice of her life 
given above. 

In the winter of 1830, Charles B. Field was the teacher. I 
am not sure but that he was also one of the schoolmasters 
''abroad." Though a worthy man and good teacher, I can 
only give him this brief notice. 

In the summer of this year, 1830, Miss Harris conducted 
the school. She was a young lady from the City of New 
York, highly educated, very lady-like in appearance, above 
the average of young ladies. She made her home with a 
family of her acquaintance in the village, but "boarded 
'round," while teaching our school. 

In 1830, James N. Granger, a son of Judge Erastus Granger, 
taught the winter school. He was "to the manor born," was 
liberally educated, and well qualified to teach. He studied 
for the ministry, became a Baptist minister; married Miss 
Anna Davis, in Connecticut, and was settled as pastor of a 
congregation in Providence, R. I. His death occurred in 1856. 

The summer school of 1831 was taught by a cousin of 
James N. Granger, Miss Harriet Maria Granger, who was also 
" to the manor born," as born and brought up in our school 
district. 

The winter school of 1831-32 was commenced by William 
Hissey, an Englishman, who taught but a part of the season; 
and it was continued till spring by Jonathan Wayne Dodge, 



134 

a young man " to the manor born," who had a few years 
before graduated at this same district school. 

The summer school of 1832 was taught by Miss Vietz, who 
was succeeded in the winter of 1832-33 by George W. Cot- 
ton, whose sister, Mary Stanley Cotton, in the summer of 1833 
took the school for a third time; George W. Cotton again 
teaching in the winter, 1833-34, and, I believe, Miss Burchard 
in the summer, — George W. Cotton still again taking the winter 
school in 1834-35, and Miss Bailey the summer school in 1835. 

In 1836, the year of the great financial crash, when nearly 
all were in debt and unable to pay debts, and it was well said 
that "everybody owed everybody more than anybody was 
worth," I find no record as to the teachers in our school. 

In 1836-37, William D. Hatch taught our winter school. 
I think he was from the town of Aurora, in this county. Miss 
Norton and Miss Mary Cronyn were the teachers in the sum- 
mer of 1837. 

The next winter, 1837-38, Charles B. Cook, of whom I re- 
member nothing, was our teacher, and Miss Potter had the 
summer school, Charles B. Cook taking the school again the 
following winter, 1838-39. 

In the spring of 1839 William T. Miller and William Hodge, 
Sen., trustees, engaged Miss Cordelia A. Hodge, a daughter of 
Lorin Hodge and sister of Mrs. Wm. Hodge, Jr., to teach the 
summer school at two dollars per week, boarding at home. 
She had received as good a common-school education as 
Western New York at that lime afforded, and in her child- 
hood had traveled, with her father's family, over our western 
lakes, and resided several years in a western territory, among 
the Indians, becoming able to speak their language quite flu- 
ently. She and her sisters had also adopted the native cos- 
tume — short dresses, leggings or pantalettes, and deer-skin 
moccasins, elaborately worked with beads and porcupine quills. 
For some sufificient reason, however, perhaps from native del- 
icacy, they did not wear so many silver brooches as was cus- 



135 



tomary among the Indians. In dancing, winch was much 
practiced among the Indians, these young lad.es became quite 

proficient. 

Miss Hodge was to commence teaching after a delay of one 
week from the engagement. Before the end of the week, a 
lady friend of hers, Miss Mary Atkins, had come from her 
home, ,n Jefferson, Ashtabula county, Ohio, where M.ss 
Hodge had formerly resided, desiring to take a school. To 
accommodate her, her friend willingly gave u,> our school to 
her care, start.ng a select school, of her own, wh.ch she con- 
tinued through the warm season of the year, wuh profit and 

success. , , J- 1 ^ 

Miss Atkins was one of the best educated ladies who 
ever taught our district school. Since teaching here she 
taught in various places, with success -in Olean, N. Y in 
Oberlin O., and in California, where she conducted a school 
on her own account, for eight years. Thence she went to 
Japan and China, but in one or two years returned to this 
country, and soon after sailed for Europe. After her return, 
she again taught in Oberlm. While there she married a law- 
yer-Mr Lynch-and left immediately for New Orleans, 
where she has since, for most of the time, resided. Mr^ 
I ynch was one of the Centennial Commissioners of 1876, and 
after spending the season in duties at the great Exhibition, 
they returned to their home in New Orleans. 

In 1839-40 Isaac F. Bryant worthily and successfully 
filled the position of teacher of our winter school, his father 
having moved into our neighborhood about the year 1829. 
The summer following. Miss Hosford again taught the 
summer school, and the winter school of 1840-41 was under 
the care of David Galusha. Of him I have no remembrance, 
nor any record of the teachers for the following summer, the 
winter of •41 and '42, or the summer of '4- In the autumn of 
that year Samuel Slade became our teacher, continuing such 
during all of 1843.-44 and -45, and leaving us in the sprmg. 



136 

of 1846. Mr. Slade writes to me of himself, and the 
school, thus: 

" I commenced my labors as teacher in this district in the 
autumn of 1842. The school was opened in the old wooden 
structure (built, as I was informed, in very early days) and was 
continued for one week, then removed to a building belonging 
to the Barrs or the Barr estate, and standing south of the hotel. 
In the meantime the old house was removed on to the adjoin- 
ing lot, preparatory to the erection of a new building on its 
site. At the beginning of the third week we were back in the 
old school-house, and labor in the construction of the new one 
had commenced. The winter was an unusually severe one, but 
the new building was finished and ready for occupancy early 
in March. Dedicatory services were held on Sunday evening, 
and a very eloquent and appropriate sermon was delivered by 
the Rev. Mr. Hopkins of the First Presbyterian Church. The 
shade trees, some of which are still in the yard and flourish- 
ing, and one of which is nearly or quite two and one-half feet 
in diameter, were planted in the spring of 1843." 

My chief purpose being to write of matters relating only to 
our early history, I will not here continue the account of our 
""Cold Spring School District" any further. 

I close this paper with a few general observations. 

School-teachers, in the olden time, especially in our newly 
settled country, were looked upon as somewhat above the or- 
dinary classes of the people. All labor in our country is hon- 
orable — but that of the teacher being of the head rather than 
the hands, commanded in early times a higher respect and 
price as well. The common laborer received ten or twelve 
■dollars and board for twenty-six days' work, which number 
was and now is required to make a month. The school- 
teacher received from twelve to twenty dollars and board, and 
was required to teach only six hours each working day. He 
was also permitted to close his school in the middle of the 
afternoon, on each Saturday, to give the sclK)lars a little time 



137 

to play, and get their chores done up for the Sabbath, while 
the common laborer was required to work from sunrise to 
sundown, every working day. 

The permission given by the trustees to close the school in 
the middle of every Saturday afternoon grew into the practice 
of dismissing at noon, and finally of not keeping at all on 
Saturdays. 

As a general thing, male teachers were expected to collect 
their money from those whose children attended the school, 
making out their bills pro rata, according to the number of 
•days of schooling afforded. 

This collecting was a pretty slow, and sometimes a very per- 
plexing job, and is presumed to have brought into existence 
•one of the verses of an old song, which in our younger days 
we used to hear sung, and in which there is much truth. Two 
or three of the verses I can recall, thus: 

HARD TIMES. 

" The carpenter tells you he'll build you a house. 
At two dollars a day, or by job; — not a mouse 
Shall it harbor, he'll make it so tight and so snug: — 
Neither he nor his 'prentice will half earn their grog, 
These hard times. 

" The hostler will give your horse plenty of hay. 
And when your back's turned he will take it away; 
For oats will give chaff, and for wheat will give bran. 
While the landlord declares there's no honester man. 
These hard times. 

^' The schoolmaster rages for want of more pay. 
He declares he will have it, or else go away; 
Half of his time he goes strutting about; 
Four weeks make a month, and the Saturdays out 
These hard times." 



138 
S.— MEMORANDA. 



In this paper are collected several brief detached sketches 
for the most part relating to persons, places and affairs men- 
tioned in the foregoing articles. 

I. — Biographical Notices. 

These consist of notes written out by way of comment on 
papers read and discussed in Club Meetings of the Buffalo- 
Historical Society. 

I. Red Jacket and Pratt's Ferry. — [See pages 97 and 
67.] I remember Red Jacket well. In stature he was not 
tall, but rather stoutly built, and straight as an arrow. He 
was dignified in his appearance and walk, and quite reserved 
in his manner. But his reserve was sometimes broken, as in the 
following instance. Tradition says that he adopted Samuel 
Pratt (whose ferry across Buffalo creek has been mentioned 
above) as his son, and gave him a piece of land for a farm. 
He made it a point to call on his " son " whenever he came 
that way, making free to dine with him as occasion required. 

The ferrying at Pratt's was accomplished by means of a fiat 
scow boat over which passed a rope, running on rollers, the 
ends of which were fastened to strong posts on the opposite 
sides of the creek. By pulling at this rope the boat was moved^ 
carrying over foot-passengers and teams. But sometimes, in 
cold weather, the ice would be strong enough to bear, and 
crossing was done upon it. Red Jacket one day wanted to 
cross, but the scow was on the other side of the creek. As the 
ice appeared 'to him strong enough to hold his weight, he 
started to walk over. To explain what followed, it must be 
here said that the chief was tenacious of the reservation lands 
of his people, and never would consent to their being sold to 
the whites. For many years efforts were made to effect a pur- 
chase, but no influence, not even money, could temi)t the old 
chief to let their possessions go. 



139 

Now, on the occasion I have mentioned, Red Jacket was 
mistaken as to the security of the ice, and on the way over it 
broke and he fell in. Wliile struggling hard to keep his head 
above water, he cried out lustily for help, shouting over and 
over ''Son! son! come and help me out or they lui/l get all the 
land!" His ruling idea was strong in his peril. Mr. Pratt, 
being near by, did a son's duty by helping him out and saving 
his life. 

2. Young King. — I well remember what commotion there 
was in Buffalo, one evening during the War of 1812 (such as 
indeed frequently occurred), when word was passed from one 
to another throughout village and town, that our soldiers Avere 
going to cross the river to invade Canada, and that Young King 
one of the Seneca Chiefs, with thirty or forty volunteers from 
his tribe, were to accompany them. The history of those 
ti'nes as published in the journals gives reasons why the army 
and the volunteer Indians did not carry out the plan proposed. 
I think, however, that the main reason was that the army con- 
sisted mostly of volunteers, who claimed that their duty was 
to defend the frontier, and not to invade Canada. 

Among anecdotes concerning Young King, there is one 
which I have never seen published, excepting soon after the 
occurrence to which it relates. Many years after the War of 
181 2, there was a petition of Young King before Congress for 
a pension, for services rendered during the war. It was 
gotten up by one of our sharp lawyers in Buffalo, and was 
presented with a speech of much eloquence by one of our rep- 
resentatives. It stated that Young King had been of much 
service to the country during the war; had fought in several 
battles, and had tost an artn. The pension was granted 
without a reference or the asking of any questions. The name 
of David Reese, the blacksmith for the Seneca Indians, was 
not mentioned in the speech before Congress, although the 
arm of Young King was really lost in an encounter with him, 
as is well known. 



140 

3- M. Louis Lecouteulx. — [See p. 28.] M. Lecouteulx 
was Town Clerk when we came to "New Amsterdam " (or Buf- 
falo) in 1805. I have spoken of his old-style dress, queue, 
breeches, long stockings and knee- and shoe-buckles. I know 
of only two besides him who in those days still wore cjueues, — 
my grandfather, Benjamin Hodge, and Roswell Hosford. The 
latter also wore the knee- and shoe-buckles; I remember seeing 
my grandfather's buckles in his house, but never saw them 
upon him, 

M. Lecouteulx was very nice in his manners, and courteous 
to all. One day, for instance, he came into Joseph Clary's 
ofifice, my father being there transacting some business with 
" The 'Squire." The trio chatted awhile, when M. Lecouteulx, 
rising, bade the 'Squire good day, and left the ofifice. In a few 
moments he returned, and begged my father's pardon for not 
having spoken to him, also, when taking his leave. 

He was also very particular and exact in transacting busi- 
ness, as for instance, buying of my father a barrel of flour, he 
paid cash for it, but required also a receipt for the payment. 

I had occasion from time to time to collect of him a tax for 
contingent expenses, levied on the real estate of our School 
District. He owned the large farm on the Main road, north 
of the Grider road, which was formerly owned by Asa Chap- 
man, and called the Chapman Farm. I called on M. Lecou- 
teulx once on this collecting errand, and on payment, he said, 
"You must give me a receipt." "Certainly, I will," I replied, 
and sat down to write it; when he quickly said, "Stop; stop; 
you will not spell my name right," and taking the pen, wrote 
his name, and I then finished writing the receipt. 

He was a beautiful penman, as the first records of the town 
bore witness, the letters being all made distinct and plain. 

M. Lecouteulx on one occasion calling at my father's house 
to buy brick, said he desired to build a house for his wife, who, 
as she was younger than himself, might live many years longer, 
and the house must be built to last. He would have none but 



141 

hard burnt brick, which we furnished, he paying fifty cents per 
thousand extra for the ([uality. This house was built on 
Exchange (Crow) street, north side, opposite the " Mansion 
House," standing back in his lot, which was the large one at 
the northeast corner of Main and Exchange streets, extending 
quite a distance on Main street towards Seneca. When the 
hill was cut down several feet in front of the Mansion House, 
on grading the streets, M. Lecouteulx had a wall of block 
stone built to protect his corner, and preserve the level of 
his land. 

Stephen Goss, a young man of my acquaintance, once when 
standing on the sidewalk, fired his gun. M. Lecouteulx com- 
ing along soon after, patted him on the shoulder, saying, 
"Young man, you must pay for that; you should not shoot 
yourgun on the sidewalk." Stephen thought no more of the 
matter, but in a day or two he was called to go before the 
magistrate, and answer to a complaint in the case, and had to 
pay a fine of one dollar and costs for his offence against the 
village law. 

M. Lecouteulx, like others, had his troubles. One of these 
was in reference to the location of the Erie Canal, for, to 
connect this with Little Buffalo Creek, near the foot of the 
Terrace hill, it necessarily passed through land belonging to 
him, to his great pecuniary loss and damage, as it ruined his 
chicken-yard. This greatly grieved him, and I believe he was 
sincerely honest in the opinion that the canal ought not to 
have thus invaded his premises. 

As an offset to this I give an incident which occasioned him 
great satisfaction, and over which he was very gleeful. He 
had erected on his house a weathercock, but soon after came 
one of our "Buffalo zephyrs," which worked a general de- 
struction of signs, chimneys, fences, etc. He expected to find 
in the morning that his weathercock had perished. But, find- 
ing it safe in its place, he went over in a joyful mood, highly 
elated, to tell Joseph Landon, of the Mansion House, of his 



142 

good fortune; but meeting Mrs. Landon at the door, he gave 
his high-wrought feelings utterance by telling her of his ex- 
ceeding great deliverance. 

4. Rev. Glkzkn Fillmore. — [See pp. 82, &c., 112.] Jan, 28, 
1875, I attended at Clarence, in this county, with many others, 
the funeral of Rev. Glezen Fillmore. I had known him from 
my boyhood to the time of his death at eighty-five years of age. 

Elder Fillmore was the first Methodist minister whom I re- 
member as preaching in this neighborhood; and I am quite 
sure that he was the first who used to come occasionally and 
preach in our little log school-house near Cold Spring. I can- 
not give the date of his first visit. He was licensed to preach 
in 1818, and Buffalo was in the circuit assigned to him, but I 
remember that he staid at my father's over night when we vVere 
living in the rebuilt shop, in the summer of 1814; and I am 
quite sure he had preached in the log school-house in the 
evening. 

In traveling his circuit he always rode on horseback, and 
when he came into our neighborhood he made my father's 
house his stopping-place. He was much beloved and re- 
spected by all who became acquainted with him. Possessing 
a large, noble frame, and a powerful but pleasant voice, none 
could hear him preach without admiring him as a preacher, 
and none could know him without loving and respecting him 
as a truly faithful servant of the Lord, — ever ready to speak 
a word for his Master, whenever and wherever an oppor- 
tunity offered. I remember that at one time soon after I first 
knew him, I had been over, with two of my sisters, on Sun- 
day, to see an aunt. We were walking home, when Mr. Fill- 
more overtook us, and passed by, without checking the gait of 
his horse. But, in his distinct yet pleasant way of speaking, he 
said to us, "Have you spent to-day to the glory of God ?" I was 
quite sure he did not know whose children we were, and seeing 
us in the road on Sunday, thought it likely that we might be 
spending the day for our own pleasure. That remark con- 



143 

tained a full sermon. I have always remembered it, and re- 
spected Mr. Fillmore for making it. I have sometimes thought 
that we may all be preachers, in a certain application of the 
term, in our actions and doings, and in our conversation with 
others, especially those who are directly influenced by us; and 
that ministers' sermons are not always preached from pulpits. 

5. Judge Samuel Wilkeson. — [See p. 72.] In a paper by 
Dr. Lord, read (1867), before the Buffalo Historical Society, he 
said truly that Judge Wilkeson was a man of remarkable 
character, prompt in decision, of comprehensive mind, and 
energy to accomplish whatever he wished or thought best; and 
that he had the fullest confidence in himself as being able to 
succeed in everything he undertook. Thus, when invested 
with legal authority, he acted on his own judgment, without 
much deference to the judgment or opinions of others. He 
would assume the responsibility of his acts, let the conse- 
(juences be what they might. 

At an early period in his judgeship, the following illustra- 
tion of this characteristic occurred, when he was holding a 
court in the summer time, a very busy season of the year for 
farmers. Immediately after the opening of the court the 
clerk was directed to call the names of the jurors, most of 
whom had been summoned from their farms for this duty, and 
had nearly all answered to their names at the first call. The 
Judge then took up the calendar and called the names of the 
parties to the first suit. The attorneys answered that they 
were not ready yet. The next case was called; the lawyers 
were not ready. The third was called, the attorneys wanted 
it put down for a certain other day. The fourth, fifth, sixth 
cases were called, and so on to the last on the calendar, — none 
of the lawyers were ready to try their cases. The Judge then 
at once turned to the jurors and told them they were dis- 
charged and could go home and attend to their work. He 
said that if the lawyers got their cases ready at the next term 
they could have them tried then; but that he would not kee[> 



144 

the jurymen at that season of the year from their farms, wait- 
ing for them to get their cases ready. " Clerk," said the Judge, 
'pay these jurors! — Crier, adjourn this Court!" 

^t this summary proceeding the whole bar rose as one man 
to remonstrate against it, but it was of no avail. The decree 
had passed, and it was not to be revoked. 

II. — A War-Song of 1812. 

The following Song is one that used to be sung in the bar- 
rooms, which I wrote down many years after it first came out, 
from recollection. 

I. 
" When S. Van Rensselaer crossed the stream, 
Just at the break of day, 
Distressing dreams and restless thoughts 
Disturbed him where he lay. 

2. 
■* But then the terrors of the night 

Did quickly flee away; 
The light his opening eyes beheld 
And hailed the new-born day. 

3- 
But soon did murderous cannons' roar 

Thunder and lighten round; 
On every tawny foe strike dread, 

And sweep them to the ground. 

4- 
The cannons' voice, the muskets' flash 

Put blood in all our v eins; 
Columbia's sons have trod the shore 

WhenB the proud Briton reigns. 

5. 
The tomahawk and scalping-knife 

On men did try their skill; 
Some, wounded, struggling for their lives, 

Did red barbarians kill. 



145 

6. 
While rode the proud insulter, Brock, 

In pomp and splendor great, 
Our valiant heroes he despised, 

And dared the power of fate. 

V.- 
Said, " Here's a mark for Yankee boys. 

So shoot me if you can;" 
His eyes a Yankee ball soon closed; 

Death found him but a man. 

8. 
Our heroes brave stood well their ground 

Till their last bullet flew; 
Then all were prisoners, forced to yield. 

What could our General do ?" 

I never liked the sixth verse of this song. General Brock 
was much respected and esteemed by our people, and was 
always spoken of as an honorable man. I remember well hear- 
ing his death talked about with deep regret. 

III. — A Boy's Trick of 1814. 

In a little family company several years ago, one of my 
sisters reminded me of the following incident of our childhood: 

In the summer of 1814, when our Brick Tavern was being 
re-built after "the burning," the carpenters heaped up the 
shavings that accumulated from day to day, outside of the 
front hall door-way, which was three or four feet from the 
ground, and we children had fine times, jumping from the 
door-way upon and into them. One evening, when it was 
nearly dark, I noticed that our cow had lain down on the 
shaving-pile for a night's lodging. So I covered her over 
with shavings, making the highest part of the pile immediately 
over her back, ran in, called my sister and took her round by 
the back way, into the hall, to have a good time jumping on 
the shaving-heap. She was delighted with the height of the 
pile, and wanted the first jump, which I gallantly (?) gave her. 



146 

I told her to take a good run through the hall, so that she 
would be sure to land on the highest portion of the heap. She 
was active, and performed her part to my entire satisfaction, 
becoming nearly or quite buried in the shavings. But what 
was her surprise and consternation, when, a moment after, she 
found herself carried off by some awful horned creature 
which had risen underneath the place where she had so mer- 
rily lodged! And there stood a nine-year-old urchin of a 
brother in the hall door-way, grinning and laughing to his 
heart's content, at the complete success of the program he had 
formed for executing his prank! This incident may serve to 
show somewhat of the merrier side of child-life in pioneer 
days, as contrasted with the more serious occurrences de- 
scribed at pages 90-93. 

IV. — Sundry Old-Time Notes. 

" Splint brooms" were the only sort used by the first settlers 
on the Holland Purchase; the only exception being that some 
made their sweeping apparatus by tying fine branches or twigs 
from the tops of young trees together in bunches. The 
" splints " were made of blue beach, birch and hickory woods. 
Broom-corn was not in use here until about 1820. To make 
a nice splint broom required an expert in the art, one well 
used to the process; and in my early life I made many 
brooms of both the primitive kinds, though only for our own 
family use. 

The " trammel-pole, with trammel-bar and hooks" which I 
have described in my account of " Our Log Tavern," were the 
necessary accompaniments of the log houses and stick chim- 
neys over fire-places without jambs, which were then universal 
here. The ^' crane" hung to swing within afire-place, came 
into use about 1812. The first I ever saw was when our 
family moved into the " Brick Tavern on the Hill," in Decem- 
ber of that year. 



H7 

The tin-oven came into use a few years after the War of 
1812-15. The roasting of spare-ribs was accomplished by 
hanging them on a string before a rousing fire, with a dripping- 
pan beneath, and a spoon at hand with which to "baste" 
them. 

Yokes used to be put on the necks of our hogs and geese to 
prevent them from getting into our fields and destroying the 
grain; but for many years I have not seen any of these yokes. 
In breed and manners the hog has been much improved; but 
the goose, I think, has not. 

When I was a boy we raised our calves, and I used to yoke 
two calves together, with an ox-yoke of suitable size which one 
of my uncles made me, and hitch them as a team to my hand- 
sled, in the winter. I used to make my own ox-bows by bend- 
ing a young growing hickory of the right size, into the shape 
I wanted, and tying it with moose-wood bark. After one 
summer's growth it would be fit to cut and use in finish- 
ing a yoke. 

A mysterious relic. Two summers ago I found while digging, 
potatoes on my premises, an old rusty piece of iron. I carried 
it into the house, but none of the family, or of the neighbors 
could tell me what it had been made or used for. It was the 
remnant of an ox-shoe, now in these regions a thing of the far- 
away past. Ignorant indeed are multitudes of the people of 
to-day about the things in use in former times in the daily 
life of "The Pioneers." 



EDITORS SUPPLEMENT. 



The following Index, as well as the Author's portrait, in- 
troduced at page 20, are included upon afterthought, since the 
title-page, preface and table of contents were printed. 

An index cannot be too minute or exhaustive. This one, 
like those to the Publications of the Buffalo Historical Society, 
" has been prepared less as a help towards finding prominent 
topics, than as a guide to, and reminder of, even the most 
slightly mentioned ones." And it "is intended not only to 
answer questions, but to start them; to provoke inquiry, and 
stimulate investigation." Thus, " even the obscurest name," 
or the most casual reference, " may become useful as well as in- 
teresting." This index is also intended to be in some measure 
a comment, explaining and adding to the information given in 
the text. 

I take this opportunity to make two corrections: At page 
135, line 29, " again " should be omitted after " Miss Hos- 
ford." At page 142, line i, for " Mrs. Landon," should be 
read " Mrs. Marvin " ; — Mrs. Landon's death having occurred 
some years before the incident related. The author notes that 
" the lady referred to was the wife of Sylvanus Marvin, and 
daughter of Russell Goodrich. Mr. Marvin was then running 
the stage from Mr. Goodrich's to Buffalo, and, I think, from 
Buffalo east." 

And I here add a fact omitted in the text, that the "gentle- 
man " and " his brother" referred to at page 46, lines 21 and 
22, are John Wilkeson, and the late William Wilkeson, of this 
city. 

A. B. 



IN DEX. 



ABBOTT, Daniel, 3, 37. 68, 79- 
Abbott Family, 42. 
Abbott, Orin (Rev.), 1 14. 
Abbott, Sabrina(Mrs. Howes), 122, 

133- 
Abbott, Sally (Mrs. Wm. Hodge, 

Sen ), 3. 

Abbott's (Daniel), 37, 63, 69. 

" Abilino," 96, 97. 

Adams. Joseph, 125, 128. 

Albany, 15, 26, 50, 61, 72. 

Alder Swamp, The, 68, 78, 81. 

Allen, Stephen, 128. 

Ames, Jonathan, 38, 42. 

Ames' practical joke, 43. 

Ames' steel traps, 42. 

Amherst, Town of, 129. 

Ammunition, Home-made, 103, 104. 

Apple-trees, Pioneer, 62, 63. 

Aspinwall, Eleazar, 115, 

Atkins, Guy J., 60. 

Atkins, Marv (Mrs. Lynch), 135. 

Atkins' Tavern (The Old Home- 
stead), 45, 58, 62. 

Aurora, Town of, 134. 

Austin, S. G., 75. 

Averill, Charles H.. 23, 128. 

Averill, Ebenezer, 36. 

Averill, Zerah, 36, 128. 

Aylesworth, Mrs. Clarissa, 132. 

BAILEY, Miss, 134. 

Baker, Moses, 75. 

Balch, Mrs., 128. 

Banking Business (Wm. Hodge, 

Sen.), l6, 17. 
Banking Law, The Free, 16. 
Barker, Pierre A. (Judge), 16. 17. 
" Barker Place, The " (Lake Shore), 

68, 69. 
Barker's (Zenas) Tavern (Buffalo), 

4, 28. 
Barney, Ai, 132. 
Barr, Augustus, 25. 
Barr, Charles, 25. 
Barr Estate, The, 136. 
Barr, Rudolph, 24, 25. 
Barton, Benjamin (Porter, Barton 

& Co.), 33- 



Batavia, 25, 58, 66. 

Battle of Black Rock, The, 11, 

54- 
Battle of Fort Erie, 60, 61. 
Beach & Higgins, 24. 
Beach-line changes (Lake Erie), 69, 

80. 
Beavers, 42, 81. 
Beer of the olden time, 24. 
Beyer's Store, Philip, 65. 
Bible Society, American, 118. 
Bible Society, Buffalo Female, 118. 
" Big Ditch," Clinton's, loi. 
Bigelow, Samuel A., 76. 
Bill, Asahel, 130. 
Bird Avenue Sewer, The, 21. 
Bird Island, 33, 72. 
Blackbirds, 105. 
Black Hole, The (Fort Niagara), 85, 

86. 
Black Joe, 29. 
Black Rock, 23, 26, 27, 32. 53, 63, 

64, 71. 72, 74, 77. 78, 85, 125. 
Black Rock Ferry, 23, 63. 
Black Rock Harbor, 78, 79. 
Bloodgood, Mr., 15. 
Bloodhound, Grosvenor's, 107. 
Blue-jay, The, 40. 
Bosworth, Samuel, 115, 116. 
Brayley, Mr., 85. 
Brewery, A pioneer, 24. 
Brick-making (Wm. Hodge, Sen.), 

9, 15, 16. 

Brick Tavern on the Hill, The, 9, 

10, 12, 14, 16, 35, 44, 55, 70, 86, 
99, 103, 146. 

Brisbane lot. The, 36. 

British Batteries, 60. 

British Indians, 12. 

Bromley, James, 44, 119. 

Broom Corn, 146. 

Brown, Rev. Mr., 114. 

Bryant, Abner (Dea), 9, 76, 113, 

116, 118, 121. 
Bryant, Abner, Jun., 118. 
Bryant, Henry, T18. 
Bryant, Isaac F., 118, 135. 
Bryant, Lucy, 118. 
Bryant, Maria, 118. 



152 



INDEX. 



"Buffalo and the Senecas " (See 

Wm. Ketchum), 29 42, 49, 50, 75. 
Buffalo Creek, " Big," 4, 21, 26, 27, 

32, 33, 49, 62, 64, 67, 68. 
Buffalo Creek Customs District (Port 

of Buffalo), 32, 62. 
Buffalo Creek, Little, 29, 64, 67, 78, 

81, 141. 
Buffalo, County Seat of Niagara 

County, 86. 
Buffalo Gazette (1816), 77, 115. 
Buffalo Harbor, 8, 33, 71, 72, 73, 

74, 77- 

Buffalo, History of, not yet written. 
Preface vi. 

Buffalo Patriot (1823). 77. 

Buffalo Plains (The Plains), 26, 58, 
62, 65. 

Buffalo River (Creek), 67, 68. 

Buffalo, Second burning of. 12, 54. 

"Buffalo Sunday-school Society," 
organized (1817), 115. 

" Buffalo Sunday-school Union So- 
ciety," 4th Anniversary of, 115. 

Buffalo, Tow^n of, 27. 

Buffalo Village, 3-19, frequently, 37, 
54. 67. 

Buffalo Zephyrs, 141. 

Burbee, James, 85. 

Burbee, , Murder of, 85. 

Burchard, Miss, 134. 

Burger, George, 35. 

Burr, Aaron, 95. 

" Bushes, The," 29. 

Butlersbury (Newark, Can.), 47. 

CALIFORNIA, 135. 

Callender, Amos (Deacon), 113, 
irs, 119. 

Camp, John G., 75. 

Campbell, H. M., 76, 115. 

Camp's Tavern, Daniel, 68, 69. 

Canal Board Report (1823), 74. 

Canal, The Erie, 15, 26, 62, 74, 78, 
79, 80, 81, 82. 

Canada, 29, 32, 55. 

Canandaigua, 34. 

Caryl, Benjamin, 77. 

Cattaraugus Creek, 29. 

Cattaraug_us Woods (Four-mile), 
70. 

"Cemeteries of Buffalo, Tht," Pref- 
ace v. 

Centennial Exhibition, 135. 

Ceylon, Island of, 52. 

Champlin, Com. Stephen, 35. 

Chapin Block, 29. 



Chapin, Dr. (and Col.) Cyrenius, 
29, 49. 

Chapin Farm ( or " lot "), 22, 36. 

Chapin, Sheldon, 76. 

Chapin, Col. Wm. W., 12, 76. 

Chapman, Asa, 36, 60, 140. 

Chapman Farm, The, 140. 

Chapman Log House, The, 60. 

Cheektowaga, Town of, 129. 

Cherry Valley, N. Y., 2, 15. 

China, 132, 135. 

" Chippewa Block, The," 17. 

Chippewa Market, The, 65. 

Chloe (colored woman), 35. 

Churchill, Lord, 2. 

Clarence, N. Y., 45, 53, 83, 86, 132. 

Clarke, Rev. Dr. Walter, 114. 

Clary, 'Squire Joseph, 46, no, 140. 

Clinton, Gov. DeWitt, 15. 

Clough, Johnson, 37. 

Club-meeting Buffalo Historical So- 
ciety, 82. 

Cogswell, William, 123. 

Coit, George, 72, 75. 

Coit, Capt. Oliver, 77. 

Cold Spring, The, 4, 5, 21, 22, 25, 
36, 49-. 50, 51. SS. 5S, 65, 94, 113. 

Cold Spring Cemetery, The old, 52. 

Cold Spring " Log-house," The, 4, 
5. 36. . 

Cold Spring Meetings, 113. 

Cold Spring "place," The. 4, 5. 

Cold Spring "property" (Farm-lots 
Nos. 36 and 37), 36. 

Cold Spring School District, 34, 124, 

Cold Spring Sunday-school, 120, 

121. 

Cold Spring Tavern, 4, 21, 23, 24, 

25, 26, 113. 
Commercial Slip, 81. 
Commissioners, Turnpike, 69. 
"Commodore, The," 71. 
Conjockety, Chief, 63. 
Conjockety's Creek, 4, 10, 11, 12, 

22, 48, 50, 60, 62, 63, 65, 85, 114. 
Connecticut, 129, 133. 
Cook, Charles B., 134. 
Cornell White Lead Co., 65. 
Corning, Jasper, 115, 1 17. 
Cotton, Abba Marcia, 1 17, 131. 
Cotton, Daniel H., 60, 66. 
Cotton, Elijah, 60. 
Cotton. George Williams; 51, 134. 
Cotton, Lester W., 103. 
Cotton lot. The (No. 55), 35, 64. 
Cotton, Mary Stanley, 117, 120, 130, 

131. 132, 134. 



INDEX. 



153 



Cotton, Rowland, 103. 
Cotton, Samuel Ward, 103, 121. 
Cotton, Ward (Maj.), 35. I30- 
Cotton, Widow (Mrs. Ward), 51, 

130. 
Court-house, Buffalo (1809), 32. 
Court-house Religious Meetings, 

113- 
"Crane," for fire-place, 146. 
Crisp, Mr., 24. 
Cronk, James, 86. 
Cronyn, Mary, 134. 
Crow, John, 28. 
Crow's (log) Tavern, John, 28. 
Cuba, Island of, 96. 
Cunningham, Mr., 76, 117. 
Customs District of Buffalo Creek, 

32. 
Customs District of Niagara, 32. 

DALEY, Martin, 76. 

Dart, Joseph, Jr., 77. 

Davis, Anna (Mrs. Rev. J. N. Gran- 
ger), 133. 

Davis, Selden, 76, 125. 

Day, David M., 76. 

Dead Creek, 67. 

Deadly Spur, A, 91. 

Debating Society, The, 100. 

Deer, 106. 

Deer Story, 106. 

De Shay, William, 10, 35. 

Despar, John, 29. 

Detroit, Mich., 77. 

Dibble, O. H., 68. 

Dodge, Alvan, 35. 44, 76, 98, 128, 
130. 

Dodge, Jonathan Wayne, 133. 

Dodge, Sacket, 35, 53, 128. 

Doge of Venice, The, 96. 

Dorr, Capt. E. P., 82. 

Ducks, 105. 

Duel, A remarkable, 25. 

EAGLE Tavern, 45. 

Eaton, Mr., 112, 123. 

Eden, Town of, 5. 

Eden Valley (Tubbs' Hollow), 5. 

Eddy, David, 55, 56, 57. 

Efner, Elijah D., 116. 

Eighteen-mile Creek, 43, 70. 

Eleven-mile Creek (Williamsville), 

6. 
EUicott, Joseph, Preface vW., 22, 65. 
Ely Family, The, 129. 
Ely, Calvin, 129. 
Ely, Rev. Mr., 129. 



Ely, Selden, 129. 

Ely, Sterling, 129. 

England, " Last War" with, 10, 14, 

21, 25, 37. 103, 112, 114, 139. 
Erie Canal, The, 15, 26, 62, 74, 78, 

79, 81, 82, 141. 
Erie County, 27, 42, 83. 
Erie, Lake, 15, 32, 33, 69, 77. 
Estee, Mr., 53. 
Executions in Buffalo, Public (civil), 

85, 87, 89; (military), 83, 84. 
Exeter, Otsego Co., N. Y., 3, 37. 
Explosive and Spirit-ed Cure for 

Ague, 105. 

FANNING-MILLS, 7, 14. 

Farm-Lots, Numbers: 

— Thirty (School-house on). See 

" Seaver," 35, 94, 123. 
— Thirty-one (Spring on), 21. 
— Thirty-two, 35. 
— Thirty-three (School-house on). 

See " Toles," 15, 35, 94, 112, 122. 
— Thirty-four, See '• Burger," 35. 
— Thirty-five, See "Forth" and 

" Wm. Hodge, Sen.," 4, 5, 6, 9, 

15. 35. 
— Thirty-six and Thirty-seven, The 
Cold Spring "lot," "place," 
"property," and see "Kettle," 

5. 25, 36. 
— Thirty-seven (See Thirty-six), 5, 

25. 36. 
— Thirty-eight, See " Leech," 36. 
— Thirty-nine (School-house on), 36, 

94. 
— Forty, 36. 

— Forty-one, See "Wells," 36. 
— Forty-two, 36. 
— Forty-three, "Brisbane lot," See 

" Ketchum, Z.," 36. 
—Fifty, " Walden Hill lot," 124. 
— Fifty-three, See " Raymond, ist," 

" Noble " and " Dodge, Sacket,'' 

35- 
— Fifty-four, See " Raymond, 2d," 

and "Dodge, Alvan," 35. 
—Fifty-five, "The Cotton lot," 35, 

64. 
— Fifty-six, 35. 
— Fifty-seven, " The Brick Tavern 

lot," See " Hunt, Michael," 8, 9, 

15. 35. 64. 
— Fifty-eight (Spring on). See " Sta- 
ley " and " Police Station No. 6," 
"School-house lot." lo, 22, 35, 
94, 120, 123, 125. 



154 



INDEX. 



— Fifty-nine, See "Granger lot" 
and see " De Shay," " Mc- 
Connell," "David Reese," and 
" Spring Abbey," lo, 35, 130. 

— Sixty, See " Persons," 36. 

— Sixty-one, See "Mains" and 
"Wormwood," 36. 63. 

— Sixty-two (Jubilee Spring), "Rem- 
ington lot," 22, 36. 

— Sixty-three, See " Winterniute," 
36. 

— Sixty-four (Stone Quarry), See 
"Averill," Ebenezer and Zerah, 
36. 

— Sixty-five, See "Hodge, Wm., 
Sen.," "Perry's," "Granger's" 
and "Chapman's log houses," 4, 
36. 

— Sixty-six (See " Chapin Farm,") 
36. 

Farnham, Elder Thomas, 114. 

Feather-beds, 7. 

Female Bible Society, Buffalo, 118. 

Ferry (Old) at Black Rock, 23, 63, 
64. 

Ferry, Pratt's (Buffalo Creek), 67, 
68, 109, 138. 

Field, Charles B., 133. 

Fillmore, A. N., 132. 

Fillmore, Glezen (Rev. Elder), 82, 
83, 85, 86, 88, 112, 142. 

Fillmore, Millard, 98, 99, 131. 

Fire-places, Old-time, 31, 129, 131, 
146, 147. 

First Presbyterian Church, Buffalo, 
18, 113, 114, 117. 

Fiske, L., 131. 

Flat-boat journey. Introduction viii., 

3- 

"Flats, The," 78, 81. 

"Flint Hill," 10, 12, 62, 84, 125. 

Flodoardo, Count, 96. 

Folsom, Ezekiel, 75. 

Folsom, Oilman, 125. 

Folsom, William, 76. 

Fording creeks (Conjockety's, Buf- 
falo, Smoke's), 62, 67, 68. 

Forest Lawn Cemetery, 19, 62, 84. 

Fort Erie, 45, 60, 78, 114. 

Fort George, 47. 

F"orth, Thomas, 5, 35. 

Fort Niagara, 32, 47. 85. 

Forward, Oliver, 72. 

Forward, Mrs. Oliver, 128. 

Four-mile ( Cattaraugus ) woods, 
70. 

Foxes, 39, 42, 105. 



Franklin, Stephen, Pi-eface vii., 23, 

26, 113, 121. 
Fuller, Mr., 128. 
Furnace, First, in Buffalo, 8. 

GALLATIN, Hon. Albert, 32. 

Galusha, David, 135. 

Geese, 7. 

"Genesee" region, 42. 

Genesee County, 53. 

Gilbert, Ephraim, 66. 

Gilbert, Erastus, 77, 107. 

Gillet, Joshua, 28. 

Glastonbury, Conn., i, 2. 

Godfrey, William (soldier), 83, 85, 

86, 87. 
Godfrey, William (teacher), 128. 
Gold, Lucius, 76. 
Goodell, Jabez (Dea.), 76, 113, ri6, 

119. 
Goodrich, Ephraim, i. 
Goodrich, Guy H., referred to. Pref- 
ace vii., 34. 
" Goodrich Mansion, The," Preface 

vii., 34- 
Goodrich, Russell, 149. 
Goss, Stephen, 141. 
Granger, Beulah, 121. 
Granger, Edward, 121. 
Granger, Erastus (Judge), 4, 9, 22, 

28, 32, 33, 50, 114, 128, 133. 
Granger Farm (property) The, (and 

see " Perry's Place"), 4, 22, 36. 
Granger, Harriet Maria, 121, 133. 
Granger, James N. (Rev.), 114, 133. 
Granger lot, The (No. 59) "Spring 

Abbey," 35, 130. 
Granger property (See G. Farm). 
Granger Saw-mill (Perry Saw-mill), 

4, 9, 50, 130. 
Granger's (Conjockety's) Creek, 60, 

65. 
Granger, Seth, 128. 
Granger's log-house (See Perry's 

"place" and log-house), 4, 22, 

36. 
Granger's Mills (See G. Saw-mill), 

50. 
Grant, Vincent, 28. 
" Great West, The," 71. 
Greenbush, N. Y., 61. 
Gridley, Frederick, 52. 
Griffin, Mr., 131. 
Griffin, Zachariah. 76. 
Grosvenor's Bloodhound, 107. 
Grosvenor, Stephen K., 107, IIO. 
Guiteau, J., 76. 



INDEX. 



155 



HADDOCK, Charles C. (Dr.), 117. 

Hall. General, 47, 50. 

Hamburg Canal, The, 64, 81. 

Hamburg, Town of, 37, 55. 

Hamilton, Alexander, 95. 

Harbor, Black Rock, 78, 79. 

Harbor, "Buffalo Creek," and Buf- 
falo, 8, 33, 71, 72, 73, 74, 77. 

"Hard Times" (poem), 137. 

Harris Hill, 11, 12, 13, 86. 

Harris Hill Tavern, 11, 12, 13, 58. 

Harris, Miss, 133. 

Hart & Cunningham, 76. 

Hartwick, N. Y., 132. 

Haskins, R. W., 82. 

Hatch, William D., 134. 

Hawkins, Henry H., 8, I19, I20, 
121, 127. 

Hawkins, Whipple, 8, 73, 119. 

Hawks, 105. 

Heacock, Rev. G. W., D.D., 35. 

Heacock, R. B., & Co., 76. 

Heirloom, An important, 42. 

Hennion, David, 24, 128. 

High Street Cemetery, 19. 

Hissey, William, 133. 

" History of Buffalo and Erie Coun- 
ty," Preface vi. 

Hodge, Alfred, 49, 53. 

Hodge, Augustus, iii. 

Hodge, Benjamin, 1st, I. 

Hodge, Benjamin, Jun., 55, 116, 
120, 121, 122, 123, 128, 131. 

Hodge, Benjamin, Sen., 2, 5, 54, 
56, 65, 76, 140. 

Hodge, Cordelia A., 134. 

Hodge, David, i. 

Hodge, Elijah, 2. 

Hodge Family, The, i. 

Hodge, John, i, 2. 

Hodge, John, Jun., 2. 

Hodge, Julia A., 11. 

Hodge, Lorin, 28, 49. 134. 

Hodge, Mary A. B., 121. 

Hodge, Mrs. William, Jun., 134, 
135- 

Hodge, Mrs. William, Sen., 2, 7, 
II, 57, 122. 

Hodge, Philander, 11, 16, in, 132. 

Hodge, Samuel, i. 

Hodge, Sarah (Sally), 11, 120. 

Hodge, Sophia, 11, 121. 

Hodge, Velorus, 60, 76, 123. 

Hodge, William, Jun., 3,11,121,132. 

Hodge, William, Sen., 2 frequently 
to 19, 44, 55, 57, 76, 98, 124, 128. 
130, 132, 134. 



Hoisington, Henry (Rev.), 52. 
Hoisington, Job, 10, 51, 52. 
Holland Land Company, The, 8, 

22, 63. 
Holland Purchase, 3, 37, 50, 146. 
Holt, Adams, 120, 121. 
Holt, Dibdell, 89. 
Holt, Elijah, 115. 
Holt, William. 60. 
" Hooking" explained. 46. 
Hopkins, Asa T. (Rev.), 136. 
Hopkins, Ebenezer, 25. 
Hopkins place. The Old Gen., 6. 
Hosford, Miss, 135, 149. 
Hosford, Roswell, 76, 85, 125, 140. 
House-rats, 42. 
Howes ik Persons, 23. 
Howes, Ebenezer, 23, 122. 
Howes, Mrs. Ebenezer, 11, 122, 

133- 
Hoyt, J. D., 76. 
Hull, Captain, 52. 
Hull, Miss, 123. 
" Hull's Buffalonians," 52. 
Hull, William, 2g. 
Hunter, Robert (Bob.), 66. 
Hunt, Michael, 9. 35. 
Hunt, Sanford(Rev.), D.D., 82. 
Husten, Joseph, 8. 
Hyde, Jabez B., 116. 
Hydraulic Canal, The Old, 8r. 
" Hydraulics, The," 81, 109. 

INDIAN Reservation, The, 21. 
Inner Village lots, Buffalo, 35. 
Jackson, Jedediah, 66. 
Jackson, Lyman, 3. 
"Jackson's," 68, 69, 70. 
Jail, Buffalo (1809), 32, 55. 
James, A., 76. 
Japan, 135. 
Jefferson, Ohio, 135. 
Jenks, P. G., 76. 
Jewett, Elam R., 85. 
Jewett, Miss. 124. 

Johnson, 28. 

Johnson, Ebenezer (Dr.), 75. 

John's Meadow, 22. 

Jubilee Spring, The (on lot 62), 22, 

36, 63. 
Judd, R., 3. 

KEEP, Richard, 12, 56. 
Ketchum, William, "Buffalo and 
the Senecas," Preface v., 29, 42, 
^49. 50. 75- 
Ketchum, William, & Co., 42. 



156 



INDEX. 



Ketchum, Zebulon, 36. 

Kettle, Mr., 36. 

Kibbe, Isaac, 115. 

Kibbe, Abigail (Mrs. J. Corning), 

117. 
"Kremlin Block, The," 113, 116. 

LAKE Erie, 15, 32, 33, 69, 77. 

" Lake Erie " settlement, 26. 

Landon, Joseph, 141. 

Landon, Mrs. Joseph, 142, 149. 

Landon, Munson, 117. 

Lane, Ezekiel, 29. 

Lapp, Mr., 24. 

Larned, Mrs., 1 1 7. 

Larzalere, Abraham (Abram), 8, 

57- 

"Last War" The, 10, 14, 21, 25, 
37, 103, 112, 114, 139. 

Lay, Polly, 123. 

Lazell, John A., 75. 

Le Couteulx, Louis Stephen, 28, 
140, 141, 142. 

Leech, Elijah, 36. 

"Leech Farm, The," 68. 

Lewis, Daniel, 55, 125, 128. 

Lewis, Miss Calista, 120. 

Lewis, Mrs. Daniel, 120. 

Lewiston, N. Y., 4. 32. 

Limestone Ridge, The, 62. 

Little Buffalo Creek, 29, 64, 67, 78, 
81, 141. 

Log-house Perry (Granger) Saw- 
mill, (lot sixty-five), 4. 

Log-house on lot Thirty-five, 5, 30. 

Log School-house burned. The, 94, 
129. 

Log School-houses, 36, 94, 120, 122, 
123, 124, ]25, 126, 127, 128, 129, 
142. 

Log Tavern, The (Farm-lot Thirty- 
five), 6, 9, 30. 

Long Island, 15. 

Longnecker Farm, 125. 

Long, William, 76, 125. 

Lord, Rev. John C, D D., 143. 

Lovejoy, Henry, 127. 

Lovejoy, Joshua, 127. 

Lovejoy, The Widow (Mrs. Joshua), 
127. 

Love, John, Murder of, 87. 

Love, Thomas C, 75. 

Low, Esther (Mrs. David Reming- 
ton) 128. 

Lyman, Mr., 23. 

Lyon house. The, (,2, 

Lyon, Mr., 62. 



Lynch, Mr., 135. 

Lynch, Mrs. (Miss Atkins), 135. 

McCLURE, Gen., 47. 

McCollister, John, 128. 

McConnell, Samuel, 35. 

Mackinac, 42. 

Mad Cow, A, 92, 93. 

Mad Dogs, 91, 92. 

Mains, John, 36, 63. 

Main Street Bridge, 64. 

Main Street, P'oot of, 67, 74. 

Maiden, Canada, 29. 

" Manlius Times, The," 49. 

Mann, Mr., 29. 

Mansion House, The, 29, 66, 141. 

Marshall, John E. (Dr.), 76. 

Marshall, Orsamus H., 117. 

Martin, Mary, 117. 

Martin, Mrs., 58. 

Marvin, Mrs. Sylvanus, 149. 

Marvin, Sylvanus, 149. 

Mason, William, 75. 

Massachusetts, 130. 

Matthews, Sylvester, 75. 

Mattresses, 7. 

Maybee & Johnson, 28. 

Maybee, Sylvanus, 28. 

Merrill, F. B., 76, no. 

Methodism in Buffalo, 82, 112. 

Middaugh, Michael, 29. 

Miller, Frederick (Maj.), 23, 33, 45, 

50, 58, 124. 
Miller's Tavern. 58. 
Miller, William T. (Capt.), 25, 76, 

98, 130, 134. 
Minks, 42. 
Mohawk River, 3. 
Monroe, Mich., 123. 
Montreal, Canada, 55. 
More, Thomas, 76. 
Morrison, Jacob, 121. 
Mortar, The Old Cast-iron, 8, 73. 
Mosier, George, 25. 
Munger, John, 121. 
Music, Early Sunday-school, 118. 
Musier, Catherine (Mrs. Taintor), 

132. 
Muskrats, 42. 
Mysterious Relic, A. 147. 

NEW AMSTERDAM (Buffalo), 27. 

140. 
Newark (Canada), 47. 
Newbury, Oliver, 75. 
New Connecticut (Ohio), 70. 
New Orleans, 135. 



INDEX. 



157 



New York City, 24, 132. 

Niagara County (The original), 27, 

32, 34, 42, 72, 83, S6. 
Niagara Falls, 4, 79. 
Niagara Falls Railroad, 80. 
Niagara River, 4, 11, 32, 45, 65, 85. 
Niagara Street Car-barns, 64. 
Niagara Village (Newark), Canada, 

47- 
Noble, Major, 35. 
Normal School-building, The, 52. 
Norton, E. F., 75. 
Norton, Miss, 134. 
Nursery, First on Western Frontier, 

8, 9, i4. 15- 

OBERLIN. O., 135- 

Ohio, 72, 135. 

Ohio Basin, 67. 

Ohio Street Bridge, 68. 

Old Homestead, The (Atkins' Tav- 

Tavern), 45, 58, 62. 
Old Roads and Streets mentioned 

and described: 

Adams Road, 125. 

Batavia Road, 25, 53, 66. 

Beach Road, The Lake, 64, 67, 
68, 6q. 

Black Rock Road (Niagara street), 

33, 47- 49. 55- 

Cayuga Road, 30, 107, 124. 

Chapin Road (Le Roy Ave. and 
Chapin Street), 124, 125. 

Crow Street, 28, 29, 30. 

Grider Road, 140. 

Guideboard Road, 50, 51, 52, 53, 
63, 64, 65. 

Gulf Road, 63, 65. 

Main Road, 50, 55. 

Turnpike, 68. 

Williamsville Road, 21, 66. 
Old-time Costume, 28, 140. 
Olean, N. Y., 135. 
Oneida Lake, 4. 
Oswego River, 4. 
Otters, 42, 81. 

Outt-r Village Lots (Buffalo), 35. 
Owls, 105. 

Ox-cart, The, 4, 6, 11, 12. 
Oxen, 4, 6, ir, 12. 

PAGE, Timothy, 76. 
" Park, The," 22. 
Partridges, 105. 
Patch, Stephen, 128. 
Peacock, William, 72. 
" Peninsula, The," 67. 



Pennsylvania, 72. 

Pennsylvania Troops, 10, 59. 

Pennsylvania Wagons, 66. 

Perry, Major (Mr.), 4, 36. 

Perry Saw-mill (Granger Saw- mill), 

4. 
Perry's "Place" (Log-house), See 

"Granger's Log-house," 36. 
Persons, Lyman, 23, 36, 128. 
" Pet Cannon, The," 44 
Peters, James, 85. 
Pile-driver, An Old-time, 8. 73 74. 
Pioneer Boys' Recreations, ico. 
Pioneer Boys' Work, 99. 
Pioneer Steamboats on Lake Erie, 

Preface v. 
"Plains, The," "Atkins'," "The 

Old Homestead," 26, 58, 63, 65, 

66, 85, 103. 120. 
Plank School-house built on lot 

Fifty-eight, 94, 125, 130, 131, 136. 
Piatt, Z., 76. 
Poisonous Pleasure, go. 
Pole-cats, 105. 
Police-station No. 6 (old Farm lot 

No. 58), 94, 120, 123. 
Pomeroy, Ralph, 13, 55. 
Porter, Barton & Co., 33. 
Porter, Col. (and Gen.;, Peter B., 

32, 33. 50. 
Postmaster, The first in Buffalo, 34. 
Postoffice, The first in Buffalo, 34. 
Potter, General Heman B., 75, 115, 

116. 
Potter, Miss, 134. 
Pratt, Capt. Samuel, 29, 67, i:?8, 

139- 
Pratt, Hiram, 76, 116. 
Pratt, Miss, Drowning of, 67. 
Pratt's Ferry, 67, 68, 109, 138. 
Prayer in ihc Day-school, 112. 
Prophecy fulfilled. A, 77. 
Prospect Hill, 129. 
Publications Buffalo Historical So- 
ciety, Preface v., 51 52, 72 n. 
Public Executions in Buffalo, 82-89. 
Punishments, School, 126. 

QUAIL, 105. 
Quebec, Canada, 55. 
Quigly, Thomas, 76. 

RACCOONS, 105. 
Ransom's Grove (Clarence), 45, 46. 
Rapids, Niagara River, 33. 
Raymond, Mr. (No. i), 35. 
Raymond, Mr. (No. 2), 35. 



158 



INDEX. 



Read, James, 75. 

Reciting Verses (Sunday-school An 

ecdote), 118, 119. 
Reese, David, 29, 35, 128, 139 
Remington, Cyrus K., 36. 
Remington, David (Rev.), 36, 117, 

121, 128, 131. 
Remington, James (Rev.), 36, 113, 

117. 
Remington, Sarah A., 117, 120, 131, 

132. 
Remington, Mrs. Shadrach, 128. 
Remington, Shadrach, 36, 63, 128. 
Remington, William A., 121. 
Revolutionary War, The, i, 2. 
Reynolds, Robert, 124. 
Rice, Asa, 115, 116. 
Richfield, N. Y., 2. 
Riddle, Lieut., 50. 
Riddles, Wire, 7, 14. 
Rifle, A prize, ill. 
Rifle Company, Early, 87, iii. 
Rifles, 105, 106. 

Roach (Patrick), and the Deer, 107. 
Roads and Streets (Old) See "Old 

Roads," &c. 
Roaring Brook, i. 
Robbins, William, 2g. 
Rolling-screens, 8, 14. 
Root, John, 76. 
" Rosibella," 96, 97. 
"Roslyn Castle," 88. 
" Rounding" the bluffs, 68. 
" Run " (or stream), A little, 25. 
Russell, Mr., 23. 
Russell, Washington, 24. 

ST. JOHN, Mrs. (Gamaliel), 55. 
Salisbury, Hezekiah A., 76, 96. 
Sand-bar at mouth of Buffalo Creek, 

67. 71, 74. 
Sandusky City, O., 42. 
Sandytown, 64, 77. 
Sandytown Ferry, 78. 
Sandytown Fishing, 79. 
Sandytown Hospital, 78. 
Saunders & Cooledge, 23. 
Scajaquada(Conjockety's) Creek, 48. 
.Schlosser, N. Y., 4. 
School-drama, A, 96. 
"School-house lot. The" (N. E. 

cor. of lot 58), 94, 123, 125, 130, 

131- 
School-houses on lots, numbers: 

— Thirty, 94, 123. 

— Thirty-three, 94, 122. 

— Thirty- nine, 36, 94. 



— Fifty-eight, 94, 120, 123, 125. 
School-lot purchased (N. E. cor. Lot 

Fifty-eight), 125. 
School- teachers in Early Days, 136, 

137- 
Scott, Jacob, 24. 
Screens, Fanning-mill, 7. 
Seaver, Nathan W., 35, 123. 
Seymour, Henry R., 76. 
Shaw, Joseph, 25. 
Shooting-matches, no. 
Sieves, Wire, 14. 
Signal-gun, The, 10. 
Sill, Nathaniel, 115. 
Sill, Uriah, 15. 
Silver Creek, N. Y., 8, 119. 
Slade, Samuel, 135. 
Smith, Ozifcl, 6. 
Smith, William, 30. 
Smoke's Creek, 68. 
Smoke's Creek Bridge, 68. 
Smyth's Cantonment (Gen.), 84. 
Soldiers' Depredations, 13, 59, 60. 
Splint Brooms, 146 
Spring Abbey, 35, 56, 130. 
Springs near Conjockety's Creek, 22. 
Springs of Water, 22, 23, 24, 62, 63, 

64, 81. 
" Square, The," 29. 
" Squaw Island," 48. 
Squier, Miles P. (Rev), 113, 116, 

119. 
Staats, Barent L, 87. 
Squirrels, 105. 
Stage-coach, The, 70, 71. 
Staley, Christjohn (a weaver), 8, 10, 

22, 35, 63. 
Staley lot. No. 58, The (Police 

Station No. 6), 10, 22, 63, 123. 
Staley Spring, The, 22, 63, 64. 
Stillman & Co., 42. 
Stocking & Bull, 42. 
Stocking & Dart, 42. 
Stocking, Joseph, 75, 113, 115, 116, 

119 
Stoddard, Lot, 94, 95, 96, 97, 129 
Stone Quarry on Lot Sixty-four, 36. 
Stieets (present) of Buffalo, men- 
tioned: 

Allen, 107, III. 

Best, 21, 30, 106, 107, 124. 

Br) ant, 122. 

Bird Avenue, 21. 

Chapin (See old C. Road.) 

Chippewa, 16, 65. 

Commercial, 64. 

Court, 84, 88. 



INDEX. 



159 



Streets (present) Continued: 

Dayton, 73. 

Delaware, 50, 53, 63, 68, 132. 

Delevan Ave., 63. 

Eagle, 116. 

Genesee, 30, 124. 

Exchange, 28. 

Ferry, 25. 

Fillmore Parkway, 81. 

Franklin, 86. 

Hamburg, 81. 

High, 19, 124. 

Jefferson, 21, 25, 30, 107. 

Le Roy Ave. (See "Old Chapin 
Road.") 

Louisiana, 67. 

Main, 4, 8, 13, 16, 21, 28, &c. 

Michigan., 8r. 

Niagara, 33, 47, 49, 55, 84, 88, 
n6, 129. 

Northampton, 94. 

North Pearl, iii. 

Ohio, 67, 68. 

Pearl, 29, 81, 86. 

Porter Avenue, 64, 78. 

Prospect, 106, 109. 

Puffer, 36, 94, 123. 

Riley, 58, 94. 

St. Paul, 94, 123. 

Seneca, 13, 28, 29, 30, 55, 81. 

Summer, 44. 

Swan, 29. 

Utica, 4, 8, 54, 63, 64, 65, 73, 
107, 125. 

Virginia, 65. 

Washington, 28, 29, 30. 

York, 64, 78, 129. 
Sturgeon, Mr., 122. 
Sturgeon Point, 43. 
Subscription to improve Buffalo 

Harbor, 75, 76, 77. 
Sunday-school of First Presbyterian 

Church, 114, 119. 
Sunday-school, " Mr. Coming's," 

117. 
Superior, The Steamboat, 74, 77. 

TAINTOR. Charles, 132. 

" Tannery, The Old Red," 107. 

"Tavern, The Brick, 9, 10, 14, 16, 

35, 44. 55. 70, 86, 103. 
Tavern, The Log, 6, 9, 30. 
" Terrace, The," 4, 28, 64, 82, 86, 

141. 
Thayer Brothers, The, 83, 87, 89. 
Thayer, Isaac, 89. 
Thayer, Israel, 89. 



Thayer, Nelson, 89. 

The PJaii s, 26, 58, 62, 65. 

Thompson, Charles, 85. 

Three Thayers, The, S3, 87, 89. 

Tin oven, 147. 

Toles, Nathan (Maj.), 9, 35. 

Tonawanda, 21. 

Totman, Col., 58, 59. 

Tourtelot, Abram (Abraham), Dr., 

58, 122. 
Town of Buffalo, 27. 
Townsend & Coit, 75. 
Townsend, Charles, 72, 75. 
Trammel and hooks, 31, 146, 
Trammel-pole, 31. 
Transportation, Early, 66. 
Trapping, 104, 105. 
Tubbs' Hollow (Eden Valley), 5. 
Turners' " The Holland Purchase," 

50. 
Twenty-four Pounder, The, 10. 

UTICA, N. Y., 3, 7. 

VEDDER, Wolcott,, 25. 

Vietz, Miss, 134. 

Vision, The New Years', a prophecy, 

77. 
Vosburgh, Nathaniel, 76. 

WALBRIDGE, Mr., 24. 

" Walden Hill," 34, 35, 65, 125. 

Walden, Ebenezer (Judge), 35, 50, 

76. 
Wales, England, 2. 
Walk-inthe-water, The Steamboat, 

74- 
War-song of 1812, A, 144, 145. 
Water-rats, 42. 
Weapons of the chase in olden times, 

loi, 102. 
Weed Block, The, 29. 
Weed, G, &'T., 75. 
Well, An old, 6. 
Wells, Joseph (Capt), 36. 
"Western Reserve, The," 70. 
Westminster Church Sunday-school, 

121. 
West, Peter, 116. 
West's Farm (Prof.), 125. 
White, Dr. Joseph, 2, 15. 
Wilber, Charles, 121. 
Wilber, Daniel, 128. 
Wilber, George, 121. 
Wilber, Lucy, 121. 
Wilkeson, David (Capt.), Preface v. 
" Wilkeson Homestead, The," 84. 



OLr JV i^VD 



1 60 



INDEX. 



Wilkeson, John, referred to, 46, 49. 
Wilkeson, Samuel (Judge), 8, 72, 

73. 75. 143- 
Wilkeson, William, referred to, 46, 

149. 
Williams, Elisha, 75. 
Williamsville, 6, 11, 23, 45, 50, 53, 

61. 
Williamsville Bridge, 51. 
Winne, Cornelius, 26. 
Wintermute, Mr., 36. 



Wolf Capture, 39. 
Wolf Trap, The, 38. 
Wood Creek, 3. 
Wormwood, George, 36. 
Wounded Prisoners, 61. 

"YANKEES, The," 56, 57. 
Yokes, 147. 

Young Hunter, The, loi. 
Young King, Chief, 139. 



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o.A'i 



